🔎 Vulnerability scanners
Nessus Essentials
Tenable's industry-standard vulnerability scanner, free for up to 16 IPs.
Why use it
Nessus Essentials gives home users the exact same scan engine that enterprises run. The UI is the most polished of any free scanner, and the plugin coverage is constantly updated by Tenable's team.
What you get
- Network and host vulnerability scanning
- Authenticated scans for credentialed deep checks
- Compliance scans (CIS, DISA STIG)
- Web application basic scanning
- PDF and HTML reports for evidence
System requirements
| Cpu | 4 cores |
|---|---|
| Ram | 4 GB |
| Disk | 30 GB |
| Os | Linux, Windows, macOS |
| Docker | Yes |
Installation
Register at tenable.com/products/nessus/nessus-essentials for a free activation code. Download the package for your platform and install. Browse to https://<host>:8834 and enter the activation code on first run; the plugin set takes ~20 minutes to download.
Suggested configuration
Use the "Basic Network Scan" policy as a starting point. Always run authenticated scans where possible — anonymous scans miss most real findings. Schedule weekly scans against your fixed IP set; if you have more than 16 IPs, prioritise internet-facing and admin systems first.
Integration ideas
- Export .nessus XML into Wazuh for centralised view
- Feed CVE list to MISP for cross-reference with TI
Alternatives
- OpenVAS — Free, no IP cap; rougher UX.
- Nuclei — Faster CLI scans, narrower coverage.
Cyentrix verdict
The fastest path to "industry-standard scan results" at home. The 16 IP cap is the only reason not to use it — for most homelabs that's plenty.