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Ghidra VS OllyDbg

Compare Ghidra VS OllyDbg and see what are their differences

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Contents:
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  3. » Reviews
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Ghidra logo Ghidra

Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) Framework

OllyDbg logo OllyDbg

OllyDbg is a 32-bit assembler level analysing debugger.
  • Ghidra Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-25
Not present

Ghidra features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Ghidra is free to use and its source code is publicly available, allowing users to modify and enhance the tool to suit their needs.
  • Multi-platform Support
    Ghidra is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Powerful Disassembly
    It comes with a powerful disassembly engine that supports multiple architectures, enabling in-depth analysis of binary code.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tool features a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies navigation and enhances user experience, especially for those who may not be comfortable with command-line tools.
  • Collaboration Features
    Ghidra allows multiple users to collaborate on the same project in real-time, facilitating team efforts in reverse engineering tasks.
  • Scripting Support
    It supports scripting in both Python and Java, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks and extend the functionality of the tool.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Ghidra has comprehensive documentation and an active community, providing users with resources and support to get started and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages of Ghidra

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and capabilities, there can be a steep learning curve for new users, requiring time and practice to master.
  • Performance
    Some users have reported performance issues, such as slow loading times and lag, particularly when working with large binaries.
  • Limited Debugging Features
    Ghidra’s debugging features are not as comprehensive as those offered by some other reverse engineering tools, potentially limiting its utility for certain tasks.
  • Java Dependency
    Ghidra requires a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run, which may be a drawback for users who prefer or require environments that do not support Java.
  • Complex Installation
    The installation and setup process can be complex and may require additional configuration, which can be daunting for beginners.
  • Less Intuitive for Certain Tasks
    While the GUI is user-friendly for many tasks, some users find it less intuitive for specific, advanced reverse engineering functions compared to other specialized tools.

OllyDbg features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    OllyDbg features a highly intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users in reverse engineering.
  • Dynamic Analysis
    It provides real-time, dynamic analysis capabilities, enabling users to monitor the behavior of programs as they are executed.
  • Plugin Support
    OllyDbg supports a variety of plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality to meet their specific needs or preferences.
  • Detailed Documentation
    The debugger comes with detailed documentation and a robust user community, which makes solving problems or learning new features significantly easier.
  • Breakpoint Management
    It offers sophisticated breakpoint management, enabling users to set, manage, and manipulate breakpoints in a flexible manner.

Possible disadvantages of OllyDbg

  • Windows Only
    OllyDbg is designed exclusively for the Windows operating system, limiting its use across different platforms.
  • No 64-bit Support
    The debugger primarily focuses on 32-bit applications and offers limited support for 64-bit applications, which can be a significant limitation for modern software analysis.
  • Limited Scripting
    While OllyDbg supports scripting to some extent, it is not as advanced as some other debuggers that offer more robust automation capabilities.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although it has a user-friendly interface, mastering OllyDbg's more advanced features can be challenging for newcomers.
  • Inconsistent Updates
    The development and updates for OllyDbg have been sporadic, leading to concerns about long-term support and missing out on modern features.

Ghidra videos

+ Add

NSA Ghidra, A game changer ?

More videos:

  • Review - Ghidra Review
  • Tutorial - Ghidra quickstart & tutorial: Solving a simple crackme

OllyDbg videos

+ Add

LABS 37 Virus Analysis Using OllyDbg REVIEW

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Introduction to Reverse Engineering | Ollydbg Tutorial
  • Tutorial - OllyDBG Tibia Reverse Engineering & Function Calling Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ghidra and OllyDbg)

Ghidra

OllyDbg

IDE
50 50%
IDE
50% 50
Software Development
50 50%
Software Development
50% 50
Developer Tools
100 100%
Developer Tools
0% 0
OS & Utilities
0 0%
OS & Utilities
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Ghidra and OllyDbg

Ghidra Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review
It may not be entirely up to the functionality of HexRays at the moment (remember that Ghidra is a new project), but tools such as decompilers require a lot of work and it is rare to see a new product that someone offers for free.
Source: www.pelock.com
The 5 Best Reverse Engineering Software for 2022
Ghidra's graphical user interface (GUI) is built on Java's Swing framework with a decompiler written in C++ and plugins written in Python. Besides its reverse engineering capabilities, Ghidra features powerful debugging features for both Windows and Linux.6
Source: online.yu.edu

OllyDbg Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review
Popularity of OllyDbg is obvious with the fact, that no other debugger, including legendary SoftICE system debugger has had so many plugins and modified versions like OllyDbg. It is interesting that a special version OllyDbg was created under the name of Immunity Debugger with built-in Python script support, meant for analyzing malware and creating exploits
Source: www.pelock.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ghidra seems to be a lot more popular than OllyDbg. While we know about 65 links to Ghidra, we've tracked only 1 mention of OllyDbg. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Ghidra mentions (65)

  • Ask HN: How are you using LLMs for traversing decompiler output?
    I've only played a with this, but it was impressive. https://ghidra-sre.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 days ago
  • I've figured out what 13 of the 16 enemy flags mean in Ultima V. Help me figure out the last three.
    I've got no experience with reverse-engineering executables, but I got a bunch of code-like stuff showing up when I fed ULTIMA.EXE to Ghidra and told it to analyze it with all the flags set. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Modding SH2
    The whole game is written in C++ (game logic intertwined with graphics). Ghidra can help you deconstruct the game binaries, but you need to put in a GREAT great effort to even get a starting point. Cheat Engine has been successful for some purposes, including an AI enabling utility for multiplayer (use with great care!). Source: over 1 year ago
  • You have probably heard of Temu right?
    What I think you’re talking about is reverse engineering. It’s basically taking a program and analysing the compiled code to attempt to find out how it works. It’s a fairly expansive topic, and fairly tricky to do but look at anything to do with Ghidra to get started. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Asking for clarification ... How is learning C beneficial for becoming a Cyber security expert
    Oh also just as an aside Ghidra is a really cool free tool developed by the NSA which can reverse engineer software by looking at its executable and recreating the C code from the instructions and static data within. It's another way to get familiarized with the relationship between C code and the instructions it compiles to. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

OllyDbg mentions (1)

  • I managed to store a copy of Minecraft on a piece of paper
    Can't you use paperback (from the creator of ollydbg)? 500Kb/A4 Https://ollydbg.de/. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ghidra and OllyDbg, you can also consider the following products

IDA - The best-of-breed binary code analysis tool, an indispensable item in the toolbox of world-class software analysts, reverse engineers, malware analyst and cybersecurity professionals.

X64dbg - X64dbg is a debugging software that can debug x64 and x32 applications.

Binary Ninja - A reverse engineering platform and GUI

WinDbg - WinDbg is a multipurposed debugger for Microsoft Windows, distributed on the web by Microsoft as...

Cutter - Open Source RE Platform powered by radare2.

Immunity Debugger - Immunity Debugger is a powerful new way to write exploits, analyze malware, and reverse engineer...

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