NGROK, an amazing tool for networking, is now essential to cybersecurity and ethical hacking. This tutorial will help you download and install NGROK on Linux, Windows, and Termux with proper guidance on the process of making an account on ngrok.io. We’ll discuss the importance of NGROK in ethical hacking and highlight any risks that users may face while using it.
Let us see how we can setup NGROK for ethical hacking as well as normal use. Mainly setup the ngrok on your Android as well as Linux device to host your own local website and serve it on ngrok.io
How To Create NGROK Account?
Before we can use the NGROK Service, we first need to create an account on NGROK’s official website. But this is not a big deal! creating an NGROK Account is much easier and simpler. And here I’ve mentioned all the steps to create your account on NGROK.
- Visit the official NGROK website (https://ngrok.com/) and sign up.
- Verify your email address to activate your NGROK account.
- Log in to your NGROK account to access its features and manage your tunnels effectively.
Install & Setup NGROK on Termux, Kali Linux & Windows
Once you complete creating your account or signing up on NGROK website, then you can easily proceed for the installation and setup process of NGROK on any system or OS you want. Down below I’ve provided all the steps to be followed by you to install this tool on your Termux, Kali Linux as well as your Windows machine.
Setup NGROK in Termux:
NGROK in Termux? As we all know Termux can also be defined as a mini linux machine which provide us a lot of functionalities which can be used to perform various attacks in the ethical hacking field and it can also be a very important tool for the mobile programmers as well, isn’t it?
So like the other systems, we will also install this NGROK tool in Termux, and I want all you guys to read this complete article and follow those simple and easy steps to setup or use NGROK on your termux, as mentioned below.
- Open Termux and start update and upgrade:
pkg update pkg upgrade -y
- Install wget on termux:
pkg install wget
- Download NGROK using Wget package:
wget https://bin.equinox.io/c/4VmDzA7iaHb/ngrok-stable-linux-arm.zip
- Unzip the NGROK File:
unzip ngrok-stable-linux-arm.zip
- Grant permissions for using the tool:
chmod +x ngrok
- Move the NGROK file to Termux’s bin directory:
mv ngrok $PREFIX/bin
Watch this video tutorial if you find it is hard:
Setup NGROK in Kali Linux:
NGROK in Kali Linux? – Kali Linux, the paradise for hackers as well as network managers, can also be used as a host machine for hosting web servers using this NGROK tool. And right in this article, we’ll find out how we can install this tool on this light and free operating system. These steps to install the tool are almost same as the termux, but some commands may vary, so read the article carefully and install it.
- Update and upgrade your Kali Linux:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade -y
- Install all the required dependencies to use the tool:
sudo apt-get install wget unzip
- Download NGROK using wget package:
wget https://bin.equinox.io/c/4VmDzA7iaHb/ngrok-stable-linux-amd64.zip
- Unzip the Ngrok file:
unzip ngrok-stable-linux-amd64.zip
- Grant permissions for using the tool:
chmod +x ngrok
- Move the ngrok file to the bin directory:
sudo mv ngrok /usr/local/bin
Watch this video tutorial if you find it is hard:
Setup NGROK in Windows:
NGROK in Windows? – Yes! Ngrok can also be used in Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. But the installation process for this installation does not involve any commands, you can directly download and install the file from the ngrok official website. Down below, there are all the steps mentioned, please have a look:
- Download NGROK from the official website.
- Extract the ZIP file.
- Open windows command prompt or cmd in the extracted directory.
- Execute type ngrok
Setup NGROK – Connecting Auth Token
Once you download and install the NGROK on your computer or mobile device, you need to connect the authentication token to your system, to take all the advantages of this tool. So follow the following easy steps to complete the process. And the authentication token or the AUTH token I am talking about, is available on your dashboard of your NGROK Account, you created earlier.
- Open a terminal or command prompt.
- Run ngrok <auth token>
to connect your NGROK account to the tool. - You can find your auth token on the NGROK dashboard after logging in.
- Navigate to the NGROK directory.
- Start a tunnel:ngrok http [port](replace
[port]with your local server’s port like 8080). - NGROK will generate a public URL for external access.
How To Use NGROK?
Installed NGROK? Let us see how we can use this tool to perform various task using the NGROK’s various functionalities. Using this tool, is very simple by default.
- Open a terminal or command prompt.
- Navigate to the NGROK directory.
- Start a tunnel: ngrok http [port](replace
[port]with your local server’s port like 8080).
ngrok http 8080
- NGROK will generate a public URL for external access, and using that URL, we can access the server from our browser.
Setup NGROK – CyberTips
While NGROK is a powerful as well as free tool, users should be aware of some potential threats:
- Unauthorized Access can effect your tunnel: Always secure your tunnels with authentication.
- Man-in-the-Middle Attack can play a vital role: Use NGROK’s secure tunnels to minimize this risk.
- You can explore custom subdomains and reserved domains for personalization.
- Keep NGROK updated for the latest features and security patches.
- Always Be cautious when tunneling sensitive information.
Conclusion
NGROK provides us too many essential features to host local websites on its server. There are also custom domain feature which we can use instead of the ngrok.io domain. But all the features of NGROK can be used only in the pro version of this tool. I recommend you to start learning this environment with the free version first, and then shift to the paid version if you like.