How to Download and Install Kali Linux
Kali Linux is a popular and powerful Linux distribution that is designed for various information security tasks such as penetration testing, security research, computer forensics, and reverse engineering. It comes with hundreds of tools that can help you assess the security of your systems and networks, perform ethical hacking, and learn new skills. In this article, we will show you how to download and install Kali Linux on your computer.
What is Kali Linux and what are its features and benefits?
Kali Linux is an open-source, Debian-based Linux distribution that is maintained and funded by Offensive Security, a leading provider of security training and certification. It is a successor of BackTrack Linux, which was one of the first penetration testing distributions. Some of the features and benefits of Kali Linux are:
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It includes more than 600 penetration testing tools that cover various domains such as web application testing, network scanning, password cracking, wireless analysis, digital forensics, malware analysis, exploit development, social engineering, and more. Some of the most famous tools are Aircrack-ng, Burp Suite, Hydra, John the Ripper, Maltego, Metasploit Framework, Nmap, Responder, sqlmap, and Wireshark.
It is free and always will be. You can download it from the official website or use one of the mirrors. You can also access the source code and contribute to the development.
It has a customized kernel that is patched for injection and supports various wireless devices. This allows you to perform wireless attacks and assessments with ease.
It follows the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS), which makes it easy to locate binaries, support files, libraries, etc.
It has a secure development environment where only trusted developers can commit packages and interact with the repositories. All packages are signed by each individual developer and by the repositories as well.
It supports multiple languages and allows you to operate in your native language.
It is completely customizable and allows you to create your own ISO images with your preferred tools and configurations. You can also use metapackages that are optimized for specific tasks or roles.
It is available on various platforms such as mobile devices (Kali NetHunter), containers (Docker or LXD), ARM devices (Raspberry Pi, Pinebook Pro, etc.), cloud providers (AWS, Azure, etc.), Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), pre-built virtual machines (VMware What are the system requirements for installing Kali Linux?
Before you download and install Kali Linux, you should make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements. These are:
A 64-bit processor with at least 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended).
A minimum of 20 GB of free disk space (40 GB recommended).
A high-speed internet connection for downloading the ISO image and updating the system.
A DVD drive or a USB port for creating the installation medium.
A monitor and a keyboard for interacting with the installation process.
If you want to run Kali Linux as a virtual machine, you will also need a hypervisor such as VMware, VirtualBox, or Hyper-V. You should allocate at least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space for the virtual machine. You should also enable virtualization support in your BIOS settings.
How to download Kali Linux
The first step to install Kali Linux is to download the official ISO image from the website. You can choose from different flavors and architectures depending on your preferences and needs. Here are the steps to download Kali Linux:
How to get the official Kali Linux images from the website
Go to the page and select the image that suits your needs. You can choose from different editions such as Kali Linux, Kali Linux Light, Kali Linux Live, Kali Linux NetInstaller, or Kali Linux ARM. You can also choose between different desktop environments such as Xfce, KDE, MATE, or LXDE. You can also select the architecture that matches your processor, such as amd64, i386, or armhf.
Click on the Download button next to the image that you want to download. This will take you to a page where you can choose a mirror server that is closest to your location. Alternatively, you can use a torrent client to download the image faster and more reliably.
Save the ISO image file to your computer. The file size will vary depending on the edition and architecture that you chose, but it will be around 3 GB for most images.
How to verify the integrity and authenticity of the images
After downloading the ISO image, you should verify its integrity and authenticity to make sure that it has not been corrupted or tampered with. This will ensure that you have a safe and reliable installation medium. To verify the integrity and authenticity of the images, you need to use two files: a SHA256 checksum file and a GPG signature file. Here are the steps to verify the images:
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Go to the same page where you downloaded the ISO image and download the corresponding SHA256 checksum file and GPG signature file. The checksum file has a .txt extension and contains a long string of hexadecimal digits. The signature file has a .asc extension and contains a digital signature created by Offensive Security.
Open a terminal window and navigate to the folder where you saved the files. For example, if you saved them in your Downloads folder, you can type: cd /Downloads
Use the sha256sum command to calculate the checksum of the ISO image and compare it with the one in the checksum file. For example, if you downloaded kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso, you can type: sha256sum kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso grep -F -f kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso.txt.sha256sum
If the checksums match, you will see an output like this: kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso: OK. This means that the ISO image is intact and has not been corrupted.
If the checksums do not match, you will see an output like this: kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso: FAILED. This means that the ISO image is corrupted or modified and you should not use it.
If you want to verify the authenticity of the image as well, you need to import Offensive Security's public key into your GPG keyring. You can do this by typing: gpg --keyserver hkp://keys.gnupg.net --recv-key ED444FF07D8D0BF6
Use the gpg command to verify the signature of the ISO image and compare it with the one in the signature file. For example, if you downloaded kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso, you can type: gpg --verify kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso.txt.asc kali-linux-2021.3-xfce-amd64.iso
If the signature is valid, you will see an output like this: gpg: Signature made Tue 14 Sep 2021 11:12:28 AM UTC using RSA key ID 7D8D0BF6 gpg: Good signature from "Kali Linux Repository ". This means that the ISO image is authentic and has not been tampered with.
If the signature is invalid, you will see an output like this: gpg: Signature made Tue 14 Sep 2021 11:12:28 AM UTC using RSA key ID 7D8D0BF6 gpg: BAD signature from "Kali Linux Repository ". This means that the ISO image is not authentic and may have been modified by someone else.
If you have verified both the integrity and authenticity of the image, you can proceed to the next step of installing Kali Linux. If not, you should download the image again from a different mirror or torrent and repeat the verification process.
How to choose the right image for your needs
Kali Linux offers different images for different purposes and preferences. You should choose the image that best suits your needs and goals. Here are some factors to consider when choosing an image:
The edition of Kali Linux determines the size and scope of the image. The default edition (Kali Linux) includes all the tools and features that Kali Linux offers. The light edition (Kali Linux Light) includes only a minimal set of tools and features that are essential for most tasks. The live edition (Kali Linux Live) allows you to run Kali Linux from a USB drive or a DVD without installing it on your hard disk. The netinstaller edition (Kali Linux NetInstaller) allows you to install Kali Linux over the network by downloading only the packages that you need.
The desktop environment of Kali Linux determines the look and feel of the graphical user interface. The default desktop environment is Xfce, which is lightweight, fast, and user-friendly. Other desktop environments are KDE, which is feature-rich, customizable, and elegant, MATE, which is simple, traditional, and stable, and LXDE, which is extremely lightweight, minimalistic, and efficient.
The architecture of Kali Linux determines the compatibility with your processor. The default architecture is amd64, which supports 64-bit processors. Other architectures are i386, which supports 32-bit processors, and armhf, which supports ARM-based processors such as Raspberry Pi.
You can also create your own custom image by using tools such as . These tools allow you to select your own packages, configurations, scripts, wallpapers, etc. and build your own ISO image.
How to install Kali Linux
Once you have downloaded and verified the ISO image of Kali Linux, you can proceed to install it on your computer. You can install Kali Linux either as a primary operating system or as a dual boot with another operating system such as Windows or macOS. You can also install Kali Linux as a virtual machine inside another operating system using a hypervisor such as VMware or VirtualBox. In this article, we will focus on installing Kali Linux as a primary operating system on a physical machine.
How to prepare for the installation and backup your data
Before you install Kali Linux on your computer, you should prepare for the installation and backup your data. Here are some steps to follow:
Create a bootable USB drive or a DVD with the ISO image of Kali Linux. You can use tools such as to create a bootable DVD. Make sure that the USB drive or the DVD has enough space to hold the ISO image.
Backup your data from your existing operating system. You can use an external hard drive, a cloud service, or another device to store your important files and documents. You should also backup your system settings, passwords, bookmarks, etc. if you want to restore them later.
Disable any security features that may interfere with the installation process. For example, you should disable Secure Boot, Fast Boot, BitLocker, or FileVault in your BIOS settings or your operating system settings. You should also disable any antivirus or firewall software that may block the installation.
Make sure that your computer is plugged into a power source and has a stable internet connection. You should also have some time and patience to complete the installation process, which may take from 15 minutes to an hour depending on your hardware and network speed.
How to boot from the installation medium and start the installation process
After you have prepared for the installation and backed up your data, you can boot from the installation medium and start the installation process. Here are the steps to follow:
Insert the USB drive or the DVD into your computer and restart it.
Press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu of your computer. The key may vary depending on your computer model and manufacturer, but it is usually one of these: F2, F10, F12, ESC, or DEL. You may also see a message on the screen that tells you which key to press.
Select the USB drive or the DVD as the boot device and press Enter. This will load the Kali Linux boot menu.
Select the option that says Install and press Enter. This will start the graphical installation process of Kali Linux. Alternatively, you can select the option that says Advanced options and choose between different modes of installation such as text-mode, expert-mode, automated-install, etc.
How to choose between graphical or text-mode installation
The graphical installation mode of Kali Linux is the default and recommended mode for most users. It provides a user-friendly interface that guides you through the installation process step by step. It also allows you to use your mouse and keyboard to interact with the installer. The graphical installation mode requires at least 512 MB of RAM and a display resolution of at least 800x600 pixels.
The text-mode installation mode of Kali Linux is an alternative mode for advanced users who prefer a more minimalistic and faster installation process. It provides a text-based interface that asks you questions and prompts you for input. It also allows you to use keyboard shortcuts to navigate through the installer. The text-mode installation mode requires at least 256 MB of RAM and a display resolution of at least 640x480 pixels.
You can choose between graphical or text-mode installation by selecting the appropriate option from the Kali Linux boot menu. If you select Install, you will enter the graphical installation mode. If you select Advanced options and then Install (text mode), you will enter the text-mode installation mode.
How to configure the language, network, user accounts, clock, disk, proxy, metapackages, and boot information
The next steps of the installation process are common for both graphical and text-mode installations. They involve configuring various aspects of your new Kali Linux system such as language, network, user accounts, clock, disk, proxy, metapackages, and boot information. Here are the steps to follow:
Select your preferred language from the list of available languages and press Continue. This will set the language for both the installer and the installed system. You can also select other languages later from the system settings.
Select your location from the list of available countries and regions and press Continue. This will set the time zone and the regional formats for your system. You can also change these settings later from the system settings.
Select your keyboard layout from the list of available layouts and press Continue. This will set the keyboard layout for both the installer and the installed system. You can also test your keyboard layout by typing in the text box provided. You can also change the keyboard layout later from the system settings.
Wait for the installer to detect and configure the network hardware. This may take a few minutes depending on your hardware and network speed. If you have a wired network connection, the installer will try to configure it automatically using DHCP. If you have a wireless network connection, the installer will ask you to select a wireless network and enter its password if needed. You can also configure the network manually by selecting Configure network manually.
Enter a hostname for your system and press Continue. The hostname is a name that identifies your system on the network. You can use any name that you like, but it should not contain spaces or special characters. You can also change the hostname later from the system settings.
Enter a domain name for your system and press Continue. The domain name is a name that groups your system with other systems on the same network or organization. You can leave this blank if you do not have a domain name or if you are not sure what to enter. You can also change the domain name later from the system settings.
Enter a password for the root user and press Continue. 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 that is not easy to guess or crack. You should also remember this password as you will need it to log in to your system and perform administrative tasks. You can also change the root password later from the system settings.
Confirm the root password by entering it again and press Continue. This will verify that you have entered the correct password.
Select your preferred clock setting from the list of available options and press Continue. You can choose between UTC, which is the universal time coordinated, or Local time, which is based on your time zone. You can also change the clock setting later from the system settings.
Select how you want to partition your disk and press Continue. You can choose between different options such as Guided - use entire disk, which will erase everything on your disk and create partitions automatically, Guided - use entire disk and set up LVM, which will do the same but also use logical volume management (LVM) to manage your disk space more efficiently, Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM, which will do the same but also encrypt your disk with LVM, or Manual, which will allow you to create and edit partitions yourself. You should choose an option that suits your needs and preferences, but be careful not to delete or overwrite any important data on your disk.
If you chose one of the guided options, select which disk you want to partition and press Continue. The installer will show you a summary of the changes that will be made to your disk and ask you to confirm them. If you are happy with them, press Finish partitioning and write changes to disk. If not, press Go back and choose another option or edit the partitions manually.
If you chose manual partitioning, create and edit partitions as you wish using the graphical or text-based interface provided by the installer. You should create at least two partitions: one for the root file system (/) and one for the swap space. You can also create other partitions for different purposes such as /home, /boot, /var, etc. You should also assign a file system type (such as ext4, btrfs, xfs, etc.) and a mount point for each partition. You can also encrypt your partitions with LVM if you want to enhance your security. When you are done, press Finish partitioning and write changes to disk.
The installer will ask you to confirm the changes that will be made to your disk and warn you that this will erase any existing data on your disk. If you are sure that you want to proceed, press Yes. If not, press No and go back to the previous step.
The installer will start formatting your disk and copying files to your new partitions. This may take some time depending on your hardware and network speed. You can monitor the progress of the installation on the screen.
If you are using a proxy server to access the internet, the installer will ask you to enter the proxy information in the format If not, leave this blank and press Continue.
The installer will ask you to select which metapackages you want to install on your system. Metapackages are groups of packages that are related to a specific task or role such as kali-linux-default, which includes the default set of tools and features, kali-linux-large, which includes a larger set of tools and features, kali-linux-everything, which includes all the tools and features available in Kali Linux, or kali-linux-top10, which includes the top 10 most popular tools in Kali Linux. You can also select individual packages by using the space bar. You can also change these selections later from the system settings.
The installer will ask you to install the GRUB boot loader on your hard disk. The GRUB boot loader is a program that allows you to choose which operating system to boot when you start your computer. You should select Yes unless you have another boot loader already installed or you want to install one later.
The installer will ask you to select which device you want to install the GRUB boot loader on. You should select the device that corresponds to your hard disk (such as /dev/sda) unless you have a specific reason to choose another device.
The installer will finish installing Kali Linux on your computer and ask you to remove the installation medium and press Continue to reboot into your new system.
How to encrypt your disk with LVM if desired
If you want to encrypt your disk with LVM, you need to select the option that says Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM when partitioning your disk. This will create an encrypted volume group that contains all your partitions. You will need to enter a passphrase to unlock this volume group every time you boot your system. This will enhance your security by protecting your data from unauthorized access in case of theft or loss of your computer. Here are the steps to encrypt your disk with LVM:
Select the option that says Guided - use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM when partitioning your disk and press Continue.
Select which disk you want to partition and press Continue. The installer will show you a summary of the changes that will be made to your disk and ask you to confirm them.
If you are happy with them, press Finish partitioning and write changes to disk. If not, press Go back and choose another option or edit the partitions manually.
The installer will ask you to enter a passphrase for the encrypted volume group. You should choose a strong and secure passphrase that is not easy to guess or crack. You should also remember this passphrase as you will need it to unlock your disk every time you boot your system.
Confirm the passphrase by entering it again and press Continue. This will verify that you have entered the correct passphrase.
The installer will start formatting your disk and creating the encrypted volume group and its logical volumes. This may take some time depending on your hardware and network speed. You can monitor the progress of the installation on the screen.
The rest of the installation process is similar to the one described above.
How to reboot into your new Kali Linux system and customize it
After the installation process is complete, you can reboot into your new Kali Linux system and start using it. Here are the steps to reboot and customize your system:
Remove the installation medium from your computer and press Continue to reboot.
Wait for the GRUB boot menu to appear and select Kali GNU/Linux and press Enter. This will load the Kali Linux kernel and initramfs.
Wait for the prompt to enter the passphrase for the encrypted volume group if you have encrypted your disk with LVM. Enter the passphrase that you have chosen during the installation and press Enter. This will unlock your disk and mount your partitions.
Wait for the login screen to appear and enter the username root and the password that you have chosen during the installation and press Enter. This will log you in as the root user and start the graphical desktop environment.
You can now customize your system according to your preferences and needs. You can change the wallpaper, theme, icons, fonts, etc. from the system settings. You can also install or remove packages, update or upgrade your system, configure your network, etc. from the terminal or the graphical package manager.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install Kali Linux on your computer. We have explained what Kali Linux is and what are its features and benefits. We have also shown you how to verify the integrity and authenticity of the ISO image, how to choose the right image for your needs, how to partition your disk and encrypt it with LVM if desired, how to configure various aspects of your system, and how to reboot and customize your system. We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you want to learn more about Kali Linux and its tools, you can visit the official website at . Happy hacking!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Kali Linux:
What are some common use cases for Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is mainly used for various information security tasks such as penetration testing, security research, computer forensics, and reverse engineering. Some of the common use cases are:
Testing the security of your own systems and networks by simulating real-world attacks and finding vulnerabilities.
Auditing the security of your clients' systems and networks by performing ethical hacking and providing reports and recommendations.
Analyzing malicious software and network traffic by using tools such as malware analysis, packet capture, network sniffing, etc.
Recovering data from damaged or encrypted devices by using tools such as data carving, file recovery, password cracking, etc.
Developing new exploits and payloads by using tools such as exploit development, shellcode generation, payload encoding, etc.
Educating yourself or others about information security by using tools such as security training, security awareness, security games, etc.
What are some of the most popular tools included in Kali Linux?
Kali Linux includes more than 600 penetration testing tools that cover various domains such as web application testing, network scanning, password cracking, wireless analysis, digital forensics, malware analysis, exploit development, social engineering, and more. Some of the most popular tools are:
Aircrack-ng: A suite of tools for wireless network auditing and cracking. It can capture network packets, analyze them, crack WEP/WPA/WPA2 keys, perform deauthentication attacks, etc.
Burp Suite: A graphical tool for web application testing. It can intercept and modify HTTP requests and responses, perform various attacks such as SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, etc , etc., and generate reports and graphs.
Hydra: A tool for brute-forcing passwords on various protocols such as FTP, SSH, Telnet, HTTP, etc. It can perform parallel and distributed attacks, use dictionaries or generate passwords, and support proxies and SSL.
John the Ripper: A tool for cracking passwords from various sources such as hashes, encrypted files, password-protected documents, etc. It can use various modes such as wordlist, incremental, mask, etc., and support various formats such as MD5, SHA1, NTLM, etc.
Maltego: A graphical tool for performing open-source intelligence (OSINT) and data mining. It can collect and analyze information from various sources such as websites, social media, databases, etc., and visualize the relationships and patterns among them.
Metasploit Framework: A framework for developing and executing exploits and payloads. It can scan for vulnerabilities, generate shellcode, create backdoors, perform post-exploitation tasks, etc., and support various platforms such as Windows, Linux, Android, etc.
Nmap: A tool for network exploration and security auditing. It can discover hosts and services on a network, determine their operating system and version, scan for open ports and vulnerabilities, perform stealth scans and evasion techniques, etc.
Responder: A tool for performing man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks on local networks. It can intercept and spoof various protocols such as SMB, HTTP, DNS, etc., and harvest credentials, hashes, certificates, etc.
sqlmap: A tool for automating SQL injection attacks on web applications. It can detect SQL injection vulnerabilities, enumerate databases and tables, dump data and files, execute commands, bypass firewalls and WAFs, etc.
Wireshark: A tool for capturing and analyzing network traffic. It can display packets in various formats and protocols, filter and search for specific data, reconstruct sessions and streams, export data and statistics, etc.
How can I update Kali Linux and its tools?
Kali Linux is a rolling release distribution that is constantly updated with new features and fixes. You should update your system regularly to keep it up to date and secure. You can update Kali Linux and its tools by using the following commands in the terminal:
To update the list of available packages from the repositories: sudo apt update
To upgrade the installed packages to their latest versions: sudo apt upgrade
To upgrade the entire system to the latest release: sudo apt dist-upgrade
To remove any unused or obsolete packages: sudo apt autoremove
You can also use the graphical package manager to update your system by clicking on the Sources icon on the desktop or by launching it from the menu. You can then select the packages that you want to update or upgrade and click on the Apply button.
How can I run Kali Linux on other platforms such as mobile devices, containers, cloud providers, or Windows Subsystem for Linux?
Kali Linux is not only available on physical machines but also on other platforms such as mobile devices, containers, cloud providers, or Windows Subsystem for Linux. You can run Kali Linux on these platforms by using different methods such as:
Kali NetHunter: A project that allows you to run Kali Linux on Android devices such as smartphones or tablets. It provides a custom kernel that supports various wireless devices and a graphical interface that integrates various tools and features. You can install Kali NetHunter by downloading the appropriate image from the website and flashing it to your device using a tool such as TWRP or Fastboot.
Docker or LXD: Tools that allow you to run Kali Linux as a container on any system that supports them. Containers are isolated environments that share the same kernel but have their own file system and network. You can run Kali Linux as a container by downloading the official image from the website or by using a command such as docker pull kalilinux/kali-rolling or lxc launch images:kali/current/amd64 kali.
AWS or Azure: Cloud providers that allow you to run Kali Linux as a virtual machine on their servers. You can access Kali Linux from anywhere using a web browser or a remote desktop client. You can run Kali Linux as a virtual machine by using the official images from the website or by using a command such as aws ec2 run-instances --image-id ami-0d8d212151031f51c --instance-type t2.micro --key-name kali or az vm create --resource-group kali --name kali --image OffensiveSecurity:Kali:Kali:latest --admin-username root --generate-ssh-keys.
WSL: A feature that allows you to run Kali Linux on Windows 10 as a subsystem. You can use the same tools and commands as on a native Linux system without the need for a virtual machine or a dual boot. You can run Kali Linux on WSL by downloading the official app from the Microsoft Store or by using a command such as wsl --install -d kali-linux.
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