What is Kali Linux? Get Started Tutorial

Kali Linux is a Debian-based distribution for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is a popular operating system used by security professionals and ethical hackers to test the security of networks, systems, and applications. It comes pre-installed with a wide range of security-related tools, including network scanners, vulnerability scanners, and penetration testing tools.

Contents

History of Kali Linux
Kali Linux features
Kali Linux skills requirement
What can you do with Kali Linux?
Advantages and disadvantages of Kali Linux
How to get started with Kali Linux?
In summary

History of Kali Linux

Kali Linux was first released in 2013 as a rewrite of BackTrack Linux, a popular penetration-testing distribution that was discontinued.

BackTrack Linux was first released in 2007 and was based on Knoppix and Ubuntu. Over the years, it gained popularity among security professionals and ethical hackers for its comprehensive collection of security-related tools and ease of use.

In 2013, the development team behind BackTrack Linux decided to re-brand the distribution and release it as Kali Linux. The new distribution was based on Debian and featured a custom GNOME desktop environment. It also included an updated and more comprehensive collection of security-related tools.

Kali Linux is continuously updated and maintained by Offensive Security, the company behind the distribution. The development team is composed of experienced security professionals and experts in the field of penetration testing and digital forensics.

Kali Linux has become one of the most popular penetration testing distributions today, with a large and active community of users and contributors. The latest version is Kali Linux 2021.1.

Kali Linux features

Kali Linux features a wide range of security-related tools and utilities for penetration testing, digital forensics, and security auditing. Some of the most important things about Kali Linux are:

A comprehensive collection of security-related tools: Kali Linux comes pre-installed with over 600 tools, including network scanners, vulnerability scanners, password cracking tools, and penetration testing frameworks. Some popular tools included in Kali Linux are Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, and Aircrack-ng.
Custom GNOME desktop environment: Kali Linux uses a custom GNOME desktop environment optimized for security professionals and ethical hackers. It includes various customization options and is designed for ease of use.
Live boot capability: Kali Linux can be booted from a live CD or USB drive, allowing users to run the operating system without installing it on a hard drive. This feature is helpful for conducting security assessments on different systems without leaving any traces.
ARM architecture support: Kali Linux can run on a wide range of hardware platforms, including laptops, desktops, and Raspberry Pi, and can also be run as a virtual machine.
Regular updates and enhancements: Kali Linux is continuously updated with the latest security tools and features, providing users with the most current and powerful security testing capabilities.
Large and active community: Kali Linux has a large and active community of users and contributors, providing support and sharing knowledge and resources.
Support for multiple languages: Kali Linux supports multiple languages.
Scripting and automation support: Kali Linux also supports scripting and automation, which helps security professionals and ethical hackers to automate repetitive tasks and make the testing process more efficient.

Kali Linux skills requirement

Kali Linux is an OS that is powerful and flexible. It is made for security professionals, ethical hackers, and IT administrators. To effectively use Kali Linux, one should have a good understanding of the following:

Linux and Unix operating systems: Knowledge of basic Linux commands, file system structure and system administration is important for navigating and managing Kali Linux.
Networking: A good understanding of networking concepts and protocols is essential for using the network scanning and penetration testing tools included in Kali Linux.
Security: Knowledge of computer security concepts, including vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques, is important for effectively using the security-related tools included in Kali Linux.
Programming: Some of the tools included in Kali Linux require basic programming skills in languages such as Python, Perl, and Bash.
Digital Forensics: Understanding digital forensics concepts and techniques can help users effectively use the digital forensics tools included in Kali Linux.
Ethical Hacking: Understanding ethical hacking concepts, methodologies, and industry standards are important for using Kali Linux to conduct security assessments and penetration tests legally and responsibly.

Additionally, a background in IT, computer science, or a related field can help understand Kali Linux. Being curious and willing to learn and experiment with new tools is also helpful when using Kali Linux.

What can you do with Kali Linux?

Kali Linux is a strong and versatile operating system designed for penetration testing, digital forensics, and security auditing. Some of the tasks that can be performed using Kali Linux include the following:

Penetration testing: Kali Linux includes many tools for conducting penetration tests on networks, systems, and applications. These tools can identify vulnerabilities, exploit weaknesses, and gain unauthorized access to systems.
Network scanning and reconnaissance: Kali Linux includes network scanning, port scanning, and surveillance tools; it can collect information about a target system or network.
Vulnerability scanning: Kali Linux includes vulnerability scanning tools, which can identify known vulnerabilities in systems and applications.
Password cracking: Kali Linux includes tools for cracking passwords, which can be used to gain access to systems and accounts that are protected by weak or easily guessed passwords.
Wireless network attacks: Kali Linux includes tools for attacking wireless networks, such as Aircrack-ng, which can be used to crack WPA and WPA2 keys, and wireless sniffers, which can be used to capture wireless traffic.
Social engineering: Kali Linux includes tools for social engineerings, such as the SET (Social-Engineer Toolkit), which can be used to conduct phishing attacks and other forms of social engineering.
Digital forensics: Kali Linux includes tools for digital forensics, such as the Sleuth Kit and Autopsy, which can be used to conduct forensic examinations of digital evidence.
Reverse engineering: Kali Linux includes tools for reverse engineerings, such as OllyDbg and IDA Pro, which can be used to analyze and understand the functionality of malware and other malicious software.
Scripting and Automation: Kali Linux also supports scripting and automation, which helps security professionals and ethical hackers to automate repetitive tasks and make the testing process more efficient.

It's essential to remember that some of these activities may be illegal or unethical and should be done only with proper authorization and in compliance with laws and regulations.

Advantages and disadvantages of Kali Linux

Advantages of Kali Linux

A comprehensive collection of security-related tools: Kali Linux comes pre-installed with over 600 tools, including network scanners, vulnerability scanners, password cracking tools, and penetration testing frameworks.
Custom GNOME desktop environment: Kali Linux uses a custom GNOME desktop environment optimized for security professionals and ethical hackers. It includes various customization options and is designed for ease of use.
Live boot capability: Kali Linux can be booted from a live CD or USB drive, allowing users to run the operating system without installing it on a hard drive. This feature is helpful for conducting security assessments on different systems without leaving any traces.
ARM architecture support: Kali Linux can run on a wide range of hardware platforms, including laptops, desktops, and Raspberry Pi, and can also be run as a virtual machine.
Regular updates and enhancements: Kali Linux is continuously updated with the latest security tools and features, providing users with the most current and powerful security testing capabilities.
Large and active community: Kali Linux has a large and active community of users and contributors, providing support and sharing knowledge and resources.
Support for multiple languages: Kali Linux supports multiple languages.
Scripting and automation support: Kali Linux also supports scripting and automation, which helps security professionals and ethical hackers to automate repetitive tasks and make the testing process more efficient.

Disadvantages of Kali Linux

Not suitable for beginners: Kali Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system, but it could be better for beginners. One should understand Linux and Unix operating systems, networking, security, and programming to use Kali Linux effectively.
Some tools are illegal or unethical: Some of the tools included in Kali Linux can be used for illegal or unethical activities, such as hacking into other people's systems without their permission. Using these tools with proper authorization and in compliance with laws and regulations is essential.
Risk of damaging systems: If misused, the tools included in Kali Linux can cause damage to systems and networks.
High system requirements: Some of the tools included in Kali Linux are resource-intensive and require powerful hardware to run effectively.
Risk of Detection: Some of the tools included in Kali Linux can be detected by security systems, making it harder for the attacker to maintain anonymity.

How to get started with Kali Linux?

Getting started with Kali Linux can be challenging, especially if you are new to Linux and penetration testing. Here are some steps to help you get started:

Install Kali Linux: The first step is to install Kali Linux on your computer or in a virtual machine. You can download the latest version of Kali Linux from the official website and follow the installation instructions.
Learn the basics: Once you have Kali Linux installed, you should familiarize yourself with the basics of the operating system, such as the file system structure, basic commands, and system administration. You can find many resources online to help you learn the basics of Linux.
Explore the tools: Kali Linux comes pre-installed with over 600 tools for penetration testing, digital forensics, and security auditing. You should explore the included tools and become familiar with their capabilities and usage.
Learn the concepts: To effectively use the tools included in Kali Linux, you should have a good understanding of networking, security, and programming concepts. You can find many resources online to help you learn these concepts.
Practice: The best way to learn how to use Kali Linux is by practicing. You can set up a test lab and use the tools to conduct penetration tests on virtual machines or your network.
Keep yourself updated: Kali Linux is continuously updated with the latest security tools and features, so you should keep yourself updated with the latest version and new features.
Join the community: Kali Linux has a large and active community of users and contributors. Joining the community can help you to learn from others, share knowledge and resources, and get support.

It's essential to remember that some of the activities you may want to perform with Kali Linux may be illegal or unethical and should be done only with proper authorization and in compliance with laws and regulations. It's also essential to use the tools responsibly and avoid causing damage to systems or networks.

In summary

Kali Linux is a free, open-source OS specifically designed for penetration testing, digital forensics, and security auditing. It is based on Debian Linux and is developed and maintained by Offensive Security.

Kali Linux comes pre-installed with various security-related tools, including network scanners, vulnerability scanners, password-cracking tools, and penetration testing frameworks. Some popular tools included in Kali Linux are Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, and Aircrack-ng.

Kali Linux also includes a custom GNOME desktop environment and a variety of other useful utilities and software packages. It can run on various hardware, like laptops, desktops, and Raspberry Pi. It can also run as a virtual machine.

Kali Linux is widely used by security professionals, ethical hackers, and IT administrators to test the security of networks, systems, and applications. It is also used for digital forensics and incident response.

Kali Linux is continuously updated with the latest security tools and features, providing users with the most current and powerful security testing capabilities.