{"id":463,"date":"2025-08-18T16:57:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T16:57:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/?post_type=docs&#038;p=463"},"modified":"2025-08-18T16:57:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T16:57:41","password":"","slug":"kali-linux","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/?docs=kali-linux","title":{"rendered":"Kali Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><sub><strong>\u26a0\ufe0f Disclaimer:<\/strong> Kali Linux is a security testing toolkit intended <strong>only<\/strong> for lawful, authorized use. Accessing or testing systems without explicit permission is illegal and unethical.<\/sub><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:28px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd0e <strong>About Kali Linux<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kali Linux is an open-source, Debian-based distribution designed for ethical hacking, penetration testing, digital forensics, and reverse engineering. It supports a wide range of platforms and enables users to perform advanced security assessments, making it a valuable tool for both cybersecurity professionals and hobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Debian-based distribution gives users several tools, configurations, and scripts. It is specifically built with the needs of experienced penetration testers in mind, and its documentation assumes users already have prior knowledge and familiarity with the Linux operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcdd <strong>Kali Linux Is Free <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kali Linux is completely free to use, and it will always stay that way. You will never have to pay to download, install, or run it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not only free in cost, but also <strong>open source<\/strong>. This means you can view the source code, modify it, and share your changes, giving you both flexibility and transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udcbb <strong>With Kali Linux, you can:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Perform penetration tests on systems, networks, and applications using tools like <strong>Metasploit<\/strong> and <strong>Nmap<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check how secure Wi-Fi networks are with tools such as <strong>Aircrack-ng<\/strong> and <strong>Wifite<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find and test weaknesses in websites using <strong>Burp Suite<\/strong>, <strong>Nikto<\/strong>, <strong>OWASP ZAP<\/strong>, and <strong>sqlmap<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search for information online (OSINT) with tools like <strong>theHarvester<\/strong>, <strong>Maltego<\/strong>, and <strong>Recon-ng<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try to crack passwords using <strong>Hashcat <\/strong>and <strong>John the Ripper<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test Windows network setups (Active Directory) with tools such as <strong>BloodHound<\/strong>, <strong>CrackMapExec\/NetExec<\/strong>, and <strong>Kerbrute<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2696\ufe0f Legal &amp; Ethical Use<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kali Linux is a professional security testing toolkit and should only be used in a lawful and ethical manner. Always ensure you have <strong>explicit permission<\/strong> before testing any system, network, or application. Authorized uses include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Testing systems you own or have been contracted to assess.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practicing in safe environments such as virtual labs especially at UNLV.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Academic or research work approved by your institution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using Kali Linux without consent\u2014such as accessing, modifying, or disrupting systems you do not own\u2014is illegal and can result in serious consequences. Ethical testers respect scope, follow all applicable laws, and report security findings responsibly so vulnerabilities can be fixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udce5 Download<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kali Linux allows to download it in many different platforms and environments. You can choose to download the distribution as a virtual machine or onto arm-based devices such as a Raspberry Pi. This adaptability allows Kali to be used by a wide range of users, regardless of their hardware preferences or requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\/get-kali\/#kali-platforms\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\/get-kali\/#kali-platforms\">You can visit the official Kali Linux download page on their official website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udcbb Recommended Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Internet:<\/strong> Required for updates and downloading extra tools<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU:<\/strong> Dual-core 2 GHz or faster<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>RAM:<\/strong> 4 GB (8 GB if running multiple tools or VMs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 50 GB+ free disk space<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display:<\/strong> 1024\u00d7768 or higher resolution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\ud83d\udccc Official Kali Linux Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Kali Linux Official Website<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\">https:\/\/www.kali.org<\/a><br><em>Primary source for downloads, documentation, and updates.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kali Linux Documentation<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\/docs\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\/docs\">https:\/\/www.kali.org\/docs<\/a><br><em>Step-by-step official guides for installation, configuration, and usage.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kali Linux Blog<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\/blog\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.kali.org\/blog\">https:\/\/www.kali.org\/blog<\/a><br><em>Announcements, new features, and security updates directly from the maintainers.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kali Linux Forums<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/forums.kali.org\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/forums.kali.org\">https:\/\/forums.kali.org<\/a><br><em>Community discussions, troubleshooting help, and tool-specific advice.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kali Linux GitLab Repository<\/strong> \u2013 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/gitlab.com\/kalilinux\">https:\/\/gitlab.com\/kalilinux<\/a><br><em>Access to the official source code and package repositories.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\ud83d\udee0 Security &amp; Penetration Testing Learning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"6\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>OffSec (Offensive Security)<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.offsec.com\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.offsec.com\">https:\/\/www.offsec.com<\/a><br><em>Creators of Kali Linux; provides certifications like OSCP, OSWP, and OSWE.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hack The Box<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hackthebox.com\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.hackthebox.com\">https:\/\/www.hackthebox.com<\/a><br><em>Hands-on labs and penetration testing challenges (must have an account).<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>TryHackMe<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/tryhackme.com\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/tryhackme.com\">https:\/\/tryhackme.com<\/a><br><em>Beginner-friendly security labs with guided learning paths.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\ud83d\udcda Educational &amp; Reference Material<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"9\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Metasploit Unleashed<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.offsec.com\/metasploit-unleashed\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.offsec.com\/metasploit-unleashed\">https:\/\/www.offsec.com\/metasploit-unleashed<\/a><br><em>Free, detailed guide to using the Metasploit Framework (from OffSec).<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>OverTheWire Wargames<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/overthewire.org\/wargames\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/overthewire.org\/wargames\">https:\/\/overthewire.org\/wargames<\/a><br><em>Interactive security challenges that improve Linux and hacking skills.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project)<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/owasp.org\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/owasp.org\">https:\/\/owasp.org<\/a><br><em>Trusted nonprofit with extensive security testing guides and tools.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u26a0\ufe0f Disclaimer: Kali Linux is a security testing toolkit intended only for lawful, authorized use. Accessing or testing systems without explicit permission is illegal and unethical. \ud83d\udd0e About Kali Linux Kali Linux is an open-source, Debian-based distribution designed for ethical hacking, penetration testing, digital forensics, and reverse engineering. It supports a wide range of platforms [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[10],"doc_tag":[],"class_list":["post-463","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry","doc_category-software"],"year_month":"2026-10","word_count":643,"total_views":0,"reactions":{"happy":0,"normal":0,"sad":0},"author_info":{"name":"Josiah Machado","author_nicename":"josiahmachado","author_url":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/?author=4"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Software","term_url":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/?doc_category=software"}],"doc_tag_info":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=463"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":469,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/463\/revisions\/469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fdoc_category&post=463"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unlvhelpdesk.test.sites.unlv.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fdoc_tag&post=463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}