10 Web Application Vulnerability Scanners in 2025 (Free & Paid Tools Compared)
- Carl Mimiosa
- 3 hours ago
- 15 min read
Web applications are the backbone of modern digital businesses. But with increased functionality comes increased risk. In fact, according to OWASP, web vulnerabilities like SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Broken Authentication still rank among the top security threats in 2025.
🧾 Top 10 Web Application Vulnerability Scanners – 2025 Comparison
Tool Name | Pricing Model | Ease of Use ⭐ | Accuracy & False Positives | Integration with CI/CD | Best For | Free Trial | Compliance Reporting | Support |
Burp Suite (PortSwigger) | Community (Free) / Pro ($449+/year) | ★★★☆☆ | Very High (manual tuning) | Partial (Pro/Enterprise only) | Security professionals, pen testers | ✅ | Limited in Community, Advanced in Pro | Email, Docs |
Acunetix | Paid (Starts ~$4500/year) | ★★★★★ | High, low false positives | ✅ Full CI/CD support | Mid-size to large businesses | ✅ 14 days | ✅ Yes | Email, Chat |
OWASP ZAP | Free & Open Source | ★★☆☆☆ | Moderate (user-dependent) | Manual via CLI | Developers, open-source users | ✅ Always Free | ❌ (basic only) | Community |
Netsparker (Invicti) | Paid (Contact for pricing) | ★★★★☆ | Very High (Proof-based scanning) | ✅ Full support | Enterprises, security-focused firms | ✅ | ✅ Yes | Email, Phone |
Detectify | Paid (Starts ~$100/month) | ★★★★★ | High, hacker-driven updates | ✅ Slack, Jira integrations | Startups, agile teams | ✅ 14 days | ❌ Limited | Chat, Email |
Qualys WAS | Paid (Starts ~$1995/year) | ★★★★☆ | Very High (Enterprise-grade) | ✅ Full CI/CD, API-based | Compliance-heavy orgs (PCI, HIPAA) | ✅ | ✅ Yes | 24x7 Support |
AppScan (HCL) | Paid (Custom pricing) | ★★★☆☆ | High, very configurable | ✅ Strong integration | Banks, financial institutions | ✅ | ✅ Yes | Enterprise Support |
Nikto | Free & Open Source | ★★☆☆☆ | Moderate (outdated signatures) | ❌ Manual only | Researchers, sysadmins | ✅ Always Free | ❌ | Community |
Wapiti | Free & Open Source | ★★☆☆☆ | Moderate | ❌ Manual only | Dev environments, light users | ✅ Always Free | ❌ | Community |
Intruder | Paid (Starts ~$85/month) | ★★★★★ | High (modern detection engine) | ✅ AWS, GCP, Azure integrations | SMEs and cloud-first companies | ✅ 30 days | ✅ Yes | Chat, Email |
Ease of Use ⭐: Rated on a 1–5 scale based on setup, UI, and documentation.
Accuracy: How well the tool identifies real vulnerabilities without generating noise.
Integration with CI/CD: Essential for DevSecOps and automation workflows.
Compliance Reporting: Useful for PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, etc.
Support: Indicates the level of customer or technical support available.
🛠 Recommendation by Business Type
Business Type | Recommended Tools | Why |
Small Businesses & Startups | Detectify, Intruder, Acunetix Standard | Easy to set up, affordable, good UI |
Enterprises | Netsparker, Qualys WAS, AppScan | Robust security features, compliance-ready |
Tech Startups / Agile Dev Teams | OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite Pro, Detectify | Flexibility, fast feedback loops |
Security Consultancies / Pentesters | Burp Suite, ZAP, Nikto | Manual control, in-depth scanning |
Compliance-Focused Industries | Qualys WAS, Netsparker, AppScan | Reliable audit trails, pre-built templates |
🧠 Tips for Business Owners
Start with a free trial or open-source tool to evaluate scanning needs.
Ensure integration with your current development stack (GitHub, Jenkins, etc.).
Evaluate reporting for non-technical stakeholders—especially for board-level risk summaries.
Don’t just look at price— consider false positives, remediation advice, and ease of deployment.
📋 Our Criteria for Ranking
To create this top 10 list, we evaluated tools based on:
Detection accuracy (low false positives/negatives)
Coverage (OWASP Top 10, zero-day vulnerability detection, etc.)
Integration with CI/CD pipelines
Reporting and compliance features
Pricing and usability
To stay ahead of attackers, businesses need to continuously test their applications for vulnerabilities. That’s where web application vulnerability scanners come into play. These tools automate the detection of common and complex vulnerabilities, saving time, enhancing security posture, and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
🏆 Top 10 Web Application Vulnerability Scanners in 2025
1. Burp Suite (by PortSwigger)
Best for: Security professionals and pen testers
Type: Paid (Community edition available)
Website: https://portswigger.net/burp
Burp Suite is a favorite among ethical hackers and penetration testers. Its Burp Scanner module uses both passive and active scanning to detect vulnerabilities like XSS, SQLi, CSRF, and more.
Pros:
Deep crawling capabilities
Smart automated scanning
Built-in proxy and manual testing tools
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Expensive for small teams
2. Acunetix
Best for: Enterprises & DevSecOps teams
Type: Paid
Website: https://www.acunetix.com
Acunetix provides fast, automated scans with high detection rates. It’s known for its low false positives and CI/CD integration capabilities. It covers over 7,000 vulnerabilities, including OWASP Top 10 and misconfigured web servers.
Pros:
Excellent UI/UX
Great API testing support
Multi-user and team collaboration features
Cons:
Costly for small organizations
3. OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Best for: Developers, students, and open-source enthusiasts
Type: Free and open-source
Website: https://www.zaproxy.org
Maintained by the OWASP Foundation, ZAP is an excellent free tool for scanning web apps. It supports passive and active scanning, spidering, fuzzing, and scripting.
Pros:
Completely free
Plugin support
Active community
Cons:
Requires manual setup for advanced scans
UI not as polished
4. Netsparker (Invicti)
Best for: Enterprises with complex applications
Type: Paid
Website: https://www.invicti.com/netsparker
Netsparker (now part of Invicti) uses Proof-Based Scanning™ to confirm vulnerabilities without false positives. It integrates well into the SDLC and supports both web apps and APIs.
Pros:
Minimal false positives
CI/CD ready
Compliance-ready reports
Cons:
Expensive
More suited for large-scale environments
5. Detectify
Best for: Agile development teams and startups
Type: Paid (Free trial available)
Website: https://detectify.com
Detectify relies on a crowdsourced knowledge base from ethical hackers and offers automated security monitoring for public-facing apps. It’s especially popular with fast-moving dev teams.
Pros:
Updated with latest hacker findings
Easy to use and deploy
Slack & Jira integration
Cons:
Limited to public web assets
May not offer deep scans
6. Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS)
Best for: Enterprises with a compliance focus
Type: Paid
Qualys WAS is part of the broader Qualys Cloud Platform, which includes asset management, compliance, and patch management. It is widely used by Fortune 500 companies.
Pros:
Integrated vulnerability management
Robust reporting for PCI DSS, HIPAA, etc.
Agentless cloud scanning
Cons:
Requires configuration
May be overkill for small orgs
7. AppScan (by HCL)
Best for: Regulated industries and financial sectors
Type: Paid
Website: https://www.hcltechsw.com/appscan
Previously owned by IBM, AppScan is now part of HCL and offers powerful dynamic application security testing (DAST) and static application security testing (SAST) features.
Pros:
Enterprise-grade scanner
Detailed remediation guidance
Strong reporting features
Cons:
Expensive
Requires expertise
8. Nikto
Best for: Command-line users and security researchers
Type: Free and open-source
Website: https://cirt.net/Nikto2
Nikto is a classic, open-source web server scanner that’s still relevant in 2025. It performs tests for 6,700+ potentially dangerous files, server misconfigurations, and outdated software.
Pros:
Lightweight and fast
Great for reconnaissance
Active GitHub community
Cons:
Not suitable for modern web apps (JavaScript-heavy)
No GUI
9. Wapiti
Best for: Lightweight vulnerability scanning in dev environments
Type: Free and open-source
Wapiti is a command-line tool written in Python that audits the security of your web applications by performing “black-box” scans.
Pros:
Python-based and customizable
Free and open-source
Ideal for tech-savvy users
Cons:
No GUI
Lacks deep scan features
10. Intruder
Best for: Teams looking for a plug-and-play scanner
Type: Paid (Free trial available)
Website: https://www.intruder.io
Intruder is a modern vulnerability scanner that focuses on ease of use and fast setup. It continuously monitors your web apps and cloud infrastructure and integrates with AWS, GCP, and Azure.
Pros:
Cloud-native
Simple dashboard
Proactive scanning
Cons:
Limited manual testing capabilities
Not suited for in-depth pen tests
🛠 Bonus Tools Worth Mentioning
Arachni – Ruby-based scanner for security pros
WebInspect (Micro Focus) – Hefty enterprise tool
Grendel-Scan – Great for academic use and testing purposes
📦 Key Features to Look for in a Web App Vulnerability Scanner
Before picking a scanner, consider the following features:
Vulnerability Coverage: OWASP Top 10, CVEs, Zero-days
Integration: GitHub, Jenkins, GitLab, Azure DevOps
Reporting: PDF, HTML, CSV formats with risk prioritization
Automation: Scheduled scans, alerting, ticketing system integration
Accuracy: Minimize false positives and negatives
🧪 How to Integrate Scanning into Your SDLC
Modern DevOps pipelines demand shift-left security—embedding security testing early in development. Here’s how:
Use CLI or REST APIs to trigger scans in CI/CD pipelines
Run nightly or build-based scheduled scans
Integrate with Jira, Slack, or PagerDuty for alerts
Web Application Vulnerability Scanners: Complete FAQ Guide
Category | Key Information | Options/Solutions | Best Practices |
Scanner Types | • DAST: Tests running applications • SAST: Analyzes source code • IAST: Combines DAST & SAST | • Commercial tools • Open-source tools • Cloud-based services • On-prem deployments | • Use both SAST & DAST for full coverage • Choose cloud vs on-prem based on security |
Popular Commercial Tools | • Enterprise-grade • Low false positives • Regular updates • Support included | • Acunetix • Burp Suite Pro • Invicti (Netsparker) • AppSpider • Qualys WAS • Checkmarx | • Align with your tech stack • Consider scaling & reporting needs |
Open-Source Options | • Free to use • Supported by communities • Highly customizable | • OWASP ZAP • Nikto • w3af • Wapiti • Arachni | • Great for small orgs • Needs more technical skill • Check project activity level |
Key Features | • Detection coverage • Managing false positives • Auth support • API scanning | • Full-spectrum vs focused tools • Proof-based validation • Multiple auth types • REST/SOAP/GraphQL support | • Prioritize accuracy • Match tech stack • Look for integrations |
Detected Vulnerabilities | Common weaknesses found by scanners | • SQL Injection • XSS • CSRF • Auth flaws • Access control issues • Misconfigurations • API issues | • Ensure OWASP Top 10 coverage • Use focused tools for niche issues |
Scanning Approaches | • Black-box: No access • White-box: Full access • Gray-box: Partial knowledge | • Unauthenticated vs Authenticated • Production vs Staging | • Run both auth & unauth scans • Scan staging before prod • Use a hybrid approach |
Scanning Frequency | How often to scan | • Weekly: Production • Daily: Dev branches • After code changes • Quarterly: Deep scans | • Automate recurring scans • Match scan pace with releases • Align with compliance |
Integration Options | Workflow incorporation | • API integrations • CI/CD plugins • Ticketing systems • Container-based scanning | • Shift-left scanning • Automate in DevOps pipelines • Build security gates |
Vulnerability Management | Post-scan process | • Validate • Prioritize • Assign • Track • Verify | • Use CVSS for severity • Consider business impact • Use formal workflows |
Compliance Support | Standards addressed | • PCI DSS • HIPAA • SOC 2 • GDPR • ISO 27001 | • Pick scanners with compliance modes • Log all scans • Follow standard frequencies |
Limitations | Gaps in automated tools | • Business logic flaws • Custom framework issues • Zero-days • Complex app workflows | • Add manual pentesting • Use multiple scanners • Train devs on security |
Cost Considerations | Pricing models | • Open-source: Free (skills required) • SaaS: Monthly/annual (varies) • On-prem: License + infra • Per scan/pay-as-you-go | • Consider ROI from breach avoidance • Include staffing costs • Match budget to company size |
Future Trends | Innovations ahead | • AI/ML for false positive control • More API-specific scanners • Supply chain risk focus • RASP (Runtime protection) | • Keep tools updated • Stay aware of new trends • Evolve strategy annually |
Table of Contents
Basic Concepts
Types of Vulnerability Scanners
Key Features to Look For
Popular Web Vulnerability Scanners
Implementation Best Practices
Vulnerability Management Process
Comparing Scanning Approaches
Integration with DevSecOps
Limitations and Challenges
Regulatory Compliance
Cost Considerations
Future Trends
Basic Concepts
What is a web application vulnerability scanner?
A web application vulnerability scanner is an automated security tool designed to identify security weaknesses in web applications. These scanners systematically probe applications for known vulnerability patterns, misconfigurations, and security flaws that could potentially be exploited by attackers.
How do web vulnerability scanners work?
Web vulnerability scanners operate by sending various test cases (HTTP requests) to web applications and analyzing the responses. They typically follow these steps:
Discovery: Mapping the application's structure by crawling links and identifying input points
Scanning: Testing each input point with various test cases designed to trigger vulnerabilities
Analysis: Examining responses to identify potential security issues
Reporting: Generating detailed reports of discovered vulnerabilities with remediation guidance
Why are web vulnerability scanners important?
Web vulnerability scanners are crucial because:
They help identify security flaws before attackers can exploit them
Manual testing alone is time-consuming and often misses vulnerabilities
They provide systematic coverage of an application's attack surface
They help organizations meet security compliance requirements
They can be integrated into development pipelines for continuous security testing
According to OWASP, web applications remain one of the most common attack vectors for security breaches.
What types of vulnerabilities can these scanners detect?
Modern web vulnerability scanners can detect numerous security issues, including:
SQL injection
Cross-site scripting (XSS)
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
Security misconfigurations
Authentication flaws
Session management issues
Insecure direct object references
XML external entity (XXE) processing vulnerabilities
Broken access control
Security header misconfiguration
API vulnerabilities
Server-side request forgery (SSRF)
The OWASP Top Ten provides a regularly updated list of the most critical web application security risks.
Types of Vulnerability Scanners
What's the difference between static and dynamic web vulnerability scanners?
Static Application Security Testing (SAST) tools analyze source code or compiled versions of code without executing the application. They examine code patterns to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) tools test running applications by sending requests and analyzing responses. They interact with applications from the outside, similar to how an attacker would.
Research by Gartner suggests that organizations should implement both SAST and DAST for comprehensive application security.
What are Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) tools?
IAST combines elements of both SAST and DAST. These tools instrument the application code and monitor execution during runtime testing. This approach provides more accurate results with fewer false positives by analyzing both code execution and application behavior.
What are cloud-based versus on-premises vulnerability scanners?
Cloud-based scanners are hosted services that scan applications over the internet. They offer scalability, ease of maintenance, and regular updates without infrastructure management.
On-premises scanners are installed and run within an organization's infrastructure. They provide greater control over data and may be necessary for applications not accessible from the internet.
Key Features to Look For
What features should I look for in a web vulnerability scanner?
Essential features include:
Comprehensive vulnerability detection: Coverage of OWASP Top 10 scans and beyond
Low false positive rate: Accurate detection with minimal false alarms
Authentication support: Ability to scan authenticated sections of applications
API testing capabilities: Support for REST, SOAP, GraphQL APIs
Customization options: Ability to tailor scans to your application's specifics
Detailed reporting: Clear vulnerability explanations with remediation advice
Integration capabilities: APIs and plugins for CI/CD pipelines and issue trackers
Scalability: Ability to handle multiple applications of varying sizes
Scheduled scanning: Automated regular scans
Compliance reporting: Reports mapped to regulatory frameworks
How important is scanner accuracy?
Scanner accuracy is critical. False positives waste developer time investigating non-issues, while false negatives leave actual vulnerabilities undiscovered. According to Ponemon Institute, organizations spend an average of 10 hours investigating each false positive. You can also look into this checklist
Can vulnerability scanners be customized for specific applications?
Yes, most enterprise-grade scanners offer customization options:
Custom scripts and rules
Exclusion of specific paths or vulnerabilities
Scan scheduling and depth configuration
Authentication methods and custom headers
Rate limiting to prevent application performance impacts
Popular Web Vulnerability Scanners
What are some leading commercial web vulnerability scanners?
Popular commercial scanners include:
Acunetix: Known for its advanced XSS and SQL injection detection
Burp Suite Professional: Widely used by security professionals for manual and automated testing
Netsparker (now Invicti): Features Proof-Based Scanning™ to reduce false positives
AppSpider: Strong in testing modern JavaScript-heavy applications
Qualys Web Application Scanning: Cloud-based solution with extensive compliance reporting
Checkmarx: Offers both SAST and DAST capabilities
What open-source web vulnerability scanners are available?
Notable open-source options include:
OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy): Comprehensive, actively maintained scanner
Nikto: Web server scanner that checks for outdated software and misconfigurations
w3af: Framework for finding and exploiting web application vulnerabilities
Wapiti: Generates vulnerability reports for SQL injection, XSS, and more
Arachni: Feature-rich framework with a web UI
The OWASP Foundation maintains several open-source security tools, including ZAP.
How do commercial and open-source scanners compare?
Commercial scanners typically offer:
More comprehensive detection capabilities
Better support and documentation
Regular updates and new vulnerability checks
Enterprise features (team collaboration, advanced reporting)
Lower false positive rates
Open-source options provide:
No licensing costs
Community support and contributions
Customization flexibility
Transparency in scanning methodology
Integration friendliness
Implementation Best Practices
How often should I run vulnerability scans?
Best practices suggest:
Weekly or bi-weekly scans for production environments
Daily scans during active development phases
Scans after significant changes to application code or configuration
Full scans quarterly with deeper configuration and more thorough testing
According to IBM Security, organizations that implement regular scanning identify vulnerabilities 25% faster on average.
How can I reduce false positives in vulnerability scans?
To minimize false positives:
Keep scanner software updated to the latest version
Configure scan settings specific to your application architecture
Implement baseline scans to filter out known acceptable issues
Use scanners with proof-based validation capabilities
Combine automated scanning with manual verification of critical findings
Train security teams to recognize and quickly process false positives
Should I scan production applications or test environments?
Ideally, both:
Test/staging environments should be scanned first to catch issues before production deployment
Production environments should also be scanned but with careful configuration to prevent service disruption
Pre-production scans should mirror production configurations as closely as possible
According to DevSecOps industry research, shifting security testing left in the development cycle reduces remediation costs by up to 100x.
Vulnerability Management Process
What should I do after finding vulnerabilities?
Establish a structured vulnerability management process:
Validate findings to eliminate false positives
Prioritize based on severity, exploitability, and business impact
Assign to appropriate development teams
Track remediation progress
Verify fixes with follow-up scans
Document resolutions and lessons learned
How should vulnerabilities be prioritized?
Consider multiple factors when prioritizing:
CVSS score: Industry-standard severity rating
Exploitability: How easily the vulnerability can be exploited
Data sensitivity: What information could be compromised
Business impact: Effect on critical business functions
Regulatory implications: Compliance requirements related to the vulnerability
The National Vulnerability Database provides CVSS scores for known vulnerabilities.
How can I track vulnerability remediation effectively?
Use dedicated tools or processes:
Vulnerability management platforms
Issue tracking systems (Jira, GitHub Issues, etc.)
Regular status meetings with security and development teams
Automated notifications for new and resolved vulnerabilities
Dashboards showing vulnerability trends and remediation metrics
Comparing Scanning Approaches
How does black-box testing differ from white-box testing?
Black-box testing approaches applications from an external perspective without knowledge of internal workings, similar to how attackers would approach them.
White-box testing leverages internal knowledge of the application, including source code access, architecture diagrams, and design documentation.
Gray-box testing falls in between, using some limited knowledge of internal workings while still testing primarily from an external perspective.
Should I use authenticated or unauthenticated scanning?
Both approaches provide value:
Unauthenticated scanning identifies vulnerabilities accessible to anonymous users, simulating external attackers without credentials.
Authenticated scanning tests vulnerabilities behind login barriers, providing more comprehensive coverage. According to Veracode, authenticated scanning typically discovers 30-50% more vulnerabilities.
Best practice is to conduct both types of scans regularly.
Integration with DevSecOps
How can I integrate vulnerability scanning into CI/CD pipelines?
Integration options include:
API integration: Most commercial scanners offer APIs for pipeline integration
Pre-built plugins: Many scanners provide plugins for Jenkins, GitHub Actions, etc.
Containerized scanners: Docker-based scanner deployments for consistent environments
Policy enforcement: Configure pipelines to fail when critical vulnerabilities are found
Delta scanning: Only scan changed components to improve pipeline performance
Organizations implementing "shift-left" security practices catch vulnerabilities earlier in development, reducing remediation costs by 50-75% according to Forrester Research.
What are the benefits of continuous vulnerability scanning?
Continuous scanning provides:
Earlier detection of security issues
Reduced remediation costs
Better security awareness among developers
More consistent security posture
Compliance with security requirements in regulated industries
Prevention of security regression
Limitations and Challenges
What are the limitations of automated vulnerability scanners?
Important limitations to understand:
Business logic vulnerabilities are difficult to detect automatically
Custom frameworks may not be properly analyzed
Rate limiting may be necessary to prevent application performance impacts
Complex workflows might not be fully tested
Novel vulnerabilities unknown to the scanner will be missed
False positives and negatives are inevitable
Can vulnerability scanners replace penetration testing?
No. While scanners provide excellent automated coverage, they complement rather than replace manual penetration testing. Human testers can:
Identify complex business logic flaws
Chain together multiple lower-severity issues into critical attacks
Adapt testing approach based on application specifics
Discover novel attack vectors
Validate and contextualize scanner findings
Industry best practice is to combine automated scanning with regular manual penetration testing, as recommended by NIST.
Regulatory Compliance
How do vulnerability scanners help with compliance requirements?
Vulnerability scanners support compliance with numerous regulations:
PCI DSS requires regular application security testing
HIPAA mandates safeguards for protected health information
SOC 2 evaluates security controls including vulnerability management
GDPR requires appropriate security measures for personal data
ISO 27001 includes vulnerability assessment in its security framework
Many scanners provide compliance-specific reports mapping findings to these regulatory requirements.
What scanning frequency is required for compliance?
Requirements vary by framework:
PCI DSS: Requires scanning after significant changes and at least quarterly
HIPAA: No specific frequency but requires regular risk assessments
ISO 27001: Requires periodic testing based on risk assessment
SOC 2: Requires regular vulnerability assessment appropriate to risk level
Cost Considerations
How much do web vulnerability scanners cost?
Pricing models vary widely:
Open-source solutions: Free but require technical expertise and infrastructure
SaaS scanners: $$$-$$$$$ annually depending on application count and size
On-premises commercial solutions: $$$-$$$$$$ plus infrastructure costs
Per-scan services: $$ per individual scan for smaller organizations
Many providers offer volume discounts for enterprise deployments.
What's the ROI of implementing vulnerability scanning?
ROI factors include:
Breach prevention: Average data breach cost was $4.45 million in 2023 according to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report
Developer efficiency: Early detection reduces remediation time by 75%
Compliance cost reduction: Streamlined audit processes
Reputation protection: Preventing security incidents that damage brand value
Future Trends
How is AI changing vulnerability scanning?
Emerging AI applications in vulnerability scanning include:
Reduced false positives through machine learning classification
Contextual vulnerability prioritization based on application behavior
Predictive analysis identifying potential vulnerability patterns
Natural language processing for better vulnerability descriptions
Automated exploit verification to confirm vulnerability exploitability
What's the future of web application security testing?
Key trends include:
Shift-left security integration throughout development
API security focus as applications become more API-driven
Container and serverless scanning for modern architectures
Supply chain security extending scanning to dependencies
Runtime application self-protection (RASP) complementing traditional scanning
According to Gartner, by 2025, 60% of organizations will use automated security scanning integrated directly into development tools.
Understanding web application vulnerability scanners is essential for modern security programs. By implementing comprehensive scanning strategies, organizations can significantly reduce their risk exposure while meeting compliance requirements and building more secure applications.
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