Kali Linux is a Linux distribution that is specifically designed for advanced penetration testing and security auditing. It is an open-source, Debian-based operating system that comes with a vast array of tools and utilities for security and IT professionals to assess the security of their systems. Kali Linux is often regarded as a "hacker paradise" due to its cutting-edge plethora of tools that are default in the OS. It is a multi-platform solution that is accessible and freely available to information security professionals and hobbyists.
Kali Linux is mainly used for tasks such as information security, security research, penetration testing, reverse engineering, and computer forensics. It is specifically tailored to the needs of professional penetration testers and security specialists. Kali Linux is not recommended for those who are unfamiliar with Linux or are looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution for development, web design, gaming, etc. .
Some of the key features of Kali Linux include:
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More than 600 penetration testing tools included: After reviewing every tool that was included in BackTrack, the developers eliminated a great number of tools that either simply did not work or which duplicated other tools that provided the same or similar functionality.
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FHS compliant: Kali adheres to the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, allowing Linux users to easily locate binaries, support files, libraries, etc. .
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Wide-ranging wireless device support: Kali Linux is built to support as many wireless devices as possible, allowing it to run properly on a wide variety of hardware and making it compatible with numerous USB and other wireless devices.
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Kali Undercover: This is a feature that allows users to use Kali Linux in an environment where they dont want to draw attention to themselves. It is the perfect way to not stand out in a crowd.
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Kali NetHunter: This is a mobile penetration testing platform for Android devices, based on Kali Linux.
In summary, Kali Linux is a Linux distribution that is specifically designed for advanced penetration testing and security auditing. It comes with a vast array of tools and utilities for security and IT professionals to assess the security of their systems. Kali Linux is not recommended for those who are unfamiliar with Linux or are looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution for development, web design, gaming, etc.