Learning reverse engineering can be a daunting task, but having the right tools can make the process much easier. Here are some of the top reverse engineering tools recommended by Redditors for beginners:

Ghidra

Ghidra is a free and open-source reverse engineering tool developed by the NSA. It supports a wide range of processor architectures and executable formats, making it versatile for various reverse engineering tasks.

• "Ghidra is open source made by the NSA I believe. Pretty useful as a holistic reverse engineering tool."

• "Ghidra is pretty boss I use it practically daily..."

Binary Ninja

Binary Ninja is another popular reverse engineering tool that offers a user-friendly interface and powerful scripting capabilities. It is a paid tool, but many Redditors find it worth the investment for its ease of use and features.

• "Binary Ninja also is a good alternative, I actually prefer this one since it feels easier read than Ghidra and has mostly similar features."

• "i like binninja for the python interface when i do scripting"

IDA Pro

IDA Pro is a highly regarded reverse engineering tool, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Despite the cost, it is often recommended for its powerful debugging and decompilation capabilities.

• "IDA free for x64 or IDA pro from sus websites but with a bunch of decompilers."

• "Depending on how good you are at RE in general.. Take a look at this book"

x64dbg

x64dbg is a free and open-source debugger for Windows. It is a great tool for beginners to learn the basics of debugging and reverse engineering.

• "DBGX64 is enough."

• "Learn assembly then watch videos on app development in reverse and do that."

radare2

radare2 is a powerful command-line reverse engineering framework. It is highly customizable and supports a wide range of architectures and file formats.

• "You can also try a tool called radare2 which is basically just a disassembler."

• "For advanced reverse engineering a disassembler like ghidra, radare2, or IDA is needed..."

CyberChef

CyberChef is a web-based tool that allows you to perform various data operations, including encoding, decoding, encryption, and decryption. It is a great tool for analyzing obfuscated code and data.

• "Keep CyberChef bookmarked and/or open in a tab."

HxD

HxD is a free hex editor for Windows. It allows you to view and edit binary files, which is essential for understanding file formats and data structures.

• "A hex editor, I typically use HxD."

Cheat Engine

Cheat Engine is a memory scanner and debugger that is often used for game hacking and reverse engineering. It allows you to modify game memory and explore the game's internal workings.

• "A memory reader, I like to use cheat engine."

Additional Resources

• Compiler Explorer (godbolt.org): This website allows you to write code in various programming languages and see the corresponding assembly output. "use a compiler explorer to compare your c++ code to assembly while you learn it"

• Pwn.college: A free and comprehensive platform for learning cybersecurity, including reverse engineering. "Pwn.college is free, fun and challenging"

• Crackmes.one: A collection of small programs designed to be reverse engineered. "Do crackmes, follow tutorials, read stuff even if you dont understand it yet."

Subreddits for Further Learning

• r/ExploitDev

• r/Hacking_Tutorials

• r/ReverseEngineering

These tools and resources should provide a solid foundation for anyone looking to dive into the world of reverse engineering. Happy hacking!