How to Download and Install Kali Linux on Your Computer
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Introduction
Kali Linux is an open-source, Debian-based Linux distribution that is designed for professional penetration testing and security auditing. It was developed by Offensive Security, a leading company in the field of information security training and certification. Kali Linux inherits its features and tools from its predecessor, BackTrack Linux, which was discontinued in 2013.
Some of the benefits of using Kali Linux include:
More than 600 penetration testing tools included, such as Nmap, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Metasploit Framework, AirCrack-ng, John the Ripper, and many more.
Free and open-source, with regular updates and patches.
Compliant with the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS), which allows easy navigation and location of files and directories.
Support for a wide range of wireless devices and interfaces, with custom kernel patches for injection.
Developed in a secure environment, with GPG signed packages and repositories.
Multi-language support, with true multilingual capabilities.
Completely customizable, with an easy ISO customization process and metapackages for specific needs.
The system requirements for Kali Linux will vary depending on what you want to install and your setup. However, here are some general guidelines:
On the low end, you can set up Kali Linux as a basic Secure Shell (SSH) server with no desktop, using as little as 128 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended) and 2 GB of disk space.
On the higher end, if you opt to install the default Xfce4 desktop and the kali-linux-default metapackage, you should aim for at least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space.
When using resource-intensive applications, such as Burp Suite or Metasploit Framework, they recommend at least 8 GB of RAM or more.
You will need a 32-bit or 64-bit CPU (single core) with 2 GHz speed or better.
You will need a high-definition graphics card and monitor.
You will need a broadband internet connection.
Downloading Kali Linux
The first step to install Kali Linux on your computer is to download the ISO file from the official website. An ISO file is a disk image that contains all the files and data needed to install an operating system. You can choose from different versions and flavors of Kali Linux, depending on your preferences and needs. Here are some of the options available:
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Kali Linux (64-Bit): This is the standard and recommended version for most users, as it supports more than 4 GB of RAM and 64-bit applications.
Kali Linux (32-Bit): This is a legacy version for older systems that do not support 64-bit architecture.
Kali Linux (ARM): This is a version for devices that use ARM processors, such as Raspberry Pi, Chromebook, or Android phones.
Kali Linux (Live): This is a version that allows you to run Kali Linux directly from the USB drive, without installing it on your hard disk. This is useful for testing or temporary use, but it does not save any changes or settings.
Kali Linux (NetInstaller): This is a minimal version that only contains the bare essentials to start the installation. It requires an internet connection to download the rest of the packages during the installation.
Kali Linux (Light): This is a lightweight version that uses less resources and disk space. It comes with a minimal desktop environment and fewer tools.
To download the ISO file, you can go to the [Kali Linux Downloads] page and select the version you want. You can also use a torrent client to download the file faster and more securely. The file size will vary depending on the version, but it will be around 3 GB to 4 GB.
After downloading the ISO file, you should verify its integrity by checking its SHA256 checksum. A checksum is a unique string of characters that is generated from a file, and it can be used to detect any errors or corruption in the file. You can compare the checksum of your downloaded file with the one provided on the website, and make sure they match. If they do not match, it means that your file is corrupted or tampered with, and you should download it again.
To check the checksum of your file, you can use a tool such as [7-Zip] or [HashTab] on Windows, or [sha256sum] on Linux. For example, if you downloaded the Kali Linux (64-Bit) ISO file, you can run this command on Linux:
sha256sum kali-linux-2023.1-installer-amd64.iso
The output should look something like this:
7a0f9f8c2b0e2188f93c32bf4ff2b311d0c91d64909f5a3a885eb318e41d2c67 kali-linux-2023.1-installer-amd64.iso
Compare this output with the checksum provided on the website, and make sure they are identical. If they are not, delete the file and download it again.
Creating a Bootable USB Drive
The next step is to create a bootable USB drive with Kali Linux. A bootable USB drive is a removable device that contains an operating system that can be loaded when you start your computer. This allows you to install or run Kali Linux without affecting your existing operating system or data.
To create a bootable USB drive with Kali Linux, you will need a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage space, and a tool such as [Rufus] or [Etcher]. These are free and easy-to-use applications that can write ISO files to USB drives in a few clicks.
Here are the steps to create a bootable USB drive with Rufus on Windows:
Download and run Rufus from its official website.
Insert your USB flash drive into your computer and select it from the Device list in Rufus.
Click on the SELECT button and browse to the location of your downloaded Kali Linux ISO file.
Make sure that the Partition scheme is set to MBR and the Target system is set to BIOS or UEFI.
Leave the other settings as default, unless you have specific requirements.
Click on the START button and confirm that you want to erase all data on your USB drive.
Wait for Rufus to write the ISO file to your USB drive. This may take several minutes depending on your USB speed and file size.
When Rufus finishes, you can safely eject your USB drive and label it as Kali Linux.
Here are the steps to create a bootable USB drive with Etcher on Linux:
Download and install Etcher from its official website.
Insert your USB flash drive into your computer and launch Etcher.
Click on the Select image button and browse to the location of your downloaded Kali Linux ISO file.
Click on the Select target button and choose your USB drive from the list.
Click on the Flash! button and enter your password if prompted.
Wait for Etcher to write the ISO file to your USB drive. This may take several minutes depending on your USB speed and file size.
When Etcher finishes, you can safely eject your USB drive and label it as Kali Linux.
Accessing the Kali Installer Menu
The next step is to boot from the USB drive and access the Kali installer menu. This is where you can choose how you want to install or run Kali Linux on your computer. You will need to change the boot order of your computer to make it load from the USB drive first, instead of your hard disk or other devices. The exact steps to do this will vary depending on your computer model and BIOS settings, but here are some general guidelines:
Restart your computer and press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS setup. This is usually F2, F10, F12, or DEL, but it may vary depending on your computer. You should see a message on the screen that tells you which key to press.
In the BIOS setup, navigate to the Boot tab or section, and look for the Boot Device Priority or Boot Order option.
Use the arrow keys or the + and - keys to move your USB drive to the top of the list, above your hard disk or other devices.
Save and exit the BIOS setup by pressing F10 or ESC, and confirm that you want to save the changes.
Your computer will restart and boot from the USB drive. You should see a black screen with a Kali logo and a menu with several options.
The Kali installer menu will offer you four main options:
Live: This option will run Kali Linux directly from the USB drive, without installing it on your hard disk. This is useful for testing or temporary use, but it does not save any changes or settings. You can also choose between different desktop environments, such as Xfce4 (default), KDE Plasma, GNOME, or LXDE.
Live (failsafe): This option will run Kali Linux in a safe mode, with minimal drivers and settings. This is useful for troubleshooting or fixing any issues that prevent Kali Linux from running normally.
Install: This option will install Kali Linux on your hard disk, alongside or instead of your existing operating system. This is useful for permanent use or dual-booting, but it will erase all data on your selected partition. You can also choose between different installation modes, such as Graphical Install (recommended), Text Install, Advanced Options, or Accessibility Options.
Advanced options: This option will give you more control over how you want to install or run Kali Linux. You can choose between different options, such as Expert Install, Automated Install, Rescue Mode, or Memory Test.
In this article, we will focus on the Install option, as we want to install Kali Linux on our hard disk. However, you can also try the Live option first if you want to test Kali Linux before installing it.
Installing Kali Linux
The final step is to install Kali Linux on your hard disk by following the installation steps and configuring the storage, network, and user settings. The installation process will vary slightly depending on whether you choose Graphical Install or Text Install, but here are some general steps that apply to both:
Select Install from the Kali installer menu and press Enter.
Select your preferred language from the list and press Enter.
Select your location from the list and press Enter. This will affect your time zone and keyboard layout settings.
Select your keyboard layout from the list and press Enter.
Wait for the installer to load additional components and detect hardware devices.
Enter a hostname for your system and press Enter. A hostname is a name that identifies your system on a network. You can use any name you like, but avoid using spaces or special characters.
Enter a domain name for your system and press Enter. A domain name is a name that groups your system with other systems on the same network. You can leave this blank if you do not have a domain name.
Enter a password for the root user and press Enter. The root user is the superuser or administrator of your system, who has full access and control over everything. You should choose a strong and secure password, and remember it well.
Confirm your password by entering it again and press Enter.
Select your time zone from the list and press Enter.
Choose how you want to partition your disk and press Enter. Partitioning is the process of dividing your disk into logical sections that can store different types of data. You can choose between different options, such as Guided - use entire disk, Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM, Guided - use entire disk and set up LVM, or Manual.
If you choose Guided - use entire disk, you will be asked to select the disk you want to use and press Enter. The installer will automatically create a single partition that will use all the available space on your disk.
If you choose Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM, you will be asked to select the disk you want to use and press Enter. The installer will automatically create a single partition that will use all the available space on your disk, and then encrypt it with LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup). LUKS is a standard for disk encryption that provides security and flexibility. You will be asked to enter a passphrase for unlocking the encrypted partition, and confirm it by entering it again. You should choose a strong and secure passphrase, and remember it well.
If you choose Guided - use entire disk and set up LVM, you will be asked to select the disk you want to use and press Enter. The installer will automatically create a single partition that will use all the available space on your disk, and then set up LVM (Logical Volume Manager). LVM is a tool that allows you to manage multiple partitions as a single logical volume, which can be resized or modified easily. You will be asked to confirm the changes to the partitions, and then choose how much space you want to allocate for the root (/) volume, the swap volume, and the home (/home) volume.
If you choose Manual, you will have full control over how you want to partition your disk. You can create, delete, resize, or format partitions as you wish. You will also have to assign mount points for each partition, such as / for root, /home for home, /boot for boot, etc. You should have some knowledge of how Linux filesystems work before choosing this option.
After choosing your partitioning scheme, you will be asked to confirm the changes to the disk and press Enter. The installer will format the partitions and copy the files from the USB drive to your hard disk.
Select your network mirror from the list and press Enter. A network mirror is a server that provides packages and updates for Kali Linux. You can choose the one that is closest to your location or has the best connection speed.
If you have a proxy server that requires authentication, enter its details and press Enter. A proxy server is an intermediary that acts as a gateway between your system and the internet. If you do not have a proxy server, leave this blank and press Enter.
Wait for the installer to download additional packages and configure them.
Select whether you want to install GRUB boot loader on your hard disk and press Enter. GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) is a program that allows you to choose which operating system to load when you start your computer. If you have another operating system installed on your computer, such as Windows or Mac OS X, you should install GRUB so that you can dual-boot with Kali Linux. If Kali Linux is the only operating system on your computer, you can skip this step.
If you choose to install GRUB, select the device where you want to install it and press Enter. This is usually /dev/sda or /dev/sdb, depending on which disk you used for installing Kali Linux.
Wait for the installer to finish installing GRUB and cleaning up.
Remove your USB drive from your computer and press Enter to reboot.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully downloaded and installed Kali Linux on your computer. You can now enjoy using this powerful operating system for penetration testing and ethical hacking purposes. Here are some tips for using Kali Linux:
Always update your system regularly by running apt update and apt upgrade commands in a terminal.
Always run Kali Linux as a standard user with limited privileges, and only use the root user when necessary. This will prevent accidental or malicious damage to your system or data.
Always use Kali Linux for ethical and legal purposes, and respect the privacy and rights of others. Do not use Kali Linux for malicious or illegal activities, as this may result in legal consequences or harm to others.
Always backup your data and settings regularly, especially before making any major changes to your system. You can use tools such as [Timeshift] or [Deja Dup] to create snapshots or backups of your system.
Always learn new skills and tools by following tutorials, courses, books, or blogs. You can find many resources online that can help you master Kali Linux and its tools. Some of the official sources are [Kali Linux Documentation], [Kali Linux Training], and [Kali Linux Blog].
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions and answers about Kali Linux:
What is the difference between Kali Linux and other Linux distributions?
Kali Linux is a specialized Linux distribution that is focused on penetration testing and security auditing. It comes with a large collection of tools and features that are designed for this purpose. Other Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, or Mint, are more general-purpose and user-friendly, and they may not have all the tools or capabilities that Kali Linux has.
Can I run Kali Linux on a virtual machine or a cloud service?
Yes, you can run Kali Linux on a virtual machine or a cloud service, such as VirtualBox, VMware, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform. This can be useful for testing or learning purposes, as it does not require installing Kali Linux on your physical machine. However, you may face some limitations or challenges, such as performance issues, network configuration, hardware compatibility, or licensing restrictions.
Can I install Kali Linux on my phone or tablet?
Yes, you can install Kali Linux on your phone or tablet, if it supports ARM architecture and has enough storage space and RAM. You can use tools such as [NetHunter] or [AndroNix] to install Kali Linux on your Android device. However, you may face some limitations or challenges, such as device compatibility, battery life, screen size, or input methods.
How can I update or upgrade Kali Linux?
You can update or upgrade Kali Linux by using the apt package manager in a terminal. To update your system with the latest packages and patches, run apt update and apt upgrade. To upgrade your system to the latest version of Kali Linux, run apt full-upgrade. You should always backup your data and settings before updating or upgrading your system.
How can I get help or support for Kali Linux?
You can get help or support for Kali Linux by using the official channels or the community resources. Some of the official channels are [Kali Forums], [Kali Bug Tracker], [Kali IRC Channel], and [Kali Email List]. Some of the community resources are [Reddit], [Stack Exchange], [YouTube], and [Twitter]. You should always search for existing answers or solutions before asking for help or support.
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