Kali Linux Installation Process

[adderall]

Hi! I just became super-interested in technology recently; right now, I'm trying to figure out how to install Kali Linux properly on my laptop. I installed it earlier with a flash drive, but I screwed up somewhere, and now my flash drive is malfunctioning and Kali won't boot. I'm going to try re-installing by burning the ISO to DVD. I was wondering if anyone here can please give me some tips on installing it. I am concerned about the part where the installer asks about partitioning. Will partitioning erase my hard drive? Because I use this computer for school and do not want that to happen.

By the way, I am aware that Kali Linux is not a practical Linux program for a beginner like myself. I just want to install it because I am really curious and interested in pen testing, and I've been told this is one of the best programs out there for that.

Thanks

[nemon1c]

you're better off just installing Kali as a VM as it's not really practical or necessary to have it as a partitioned OS on your machine. Plenty of guides out there on how to do this.

[adderall]

you're better off just installing Kali as a VM as it's not really practical or necessary to have it as a partitioned OS on your machine. Plenty of guides out there on how to do this.

Great idea, thanks, I just downloaded Virtual Box

[gray-fox]

Great idea, thanks, I just downloaded Virtual Box

Remember that you need also another OS("victim" os) to do your pentesting in your VB. Xp would be my recommendation at first.
And because kali isn't "program" it is just distro that has has many pentest tools build in you should start learn about those tools. Metasploit would be good one to start with.

[adderall]

Remember that you need also another OS("victim" os) to do your pentesting in your VB. Xp would be my recommendation at first.
And because kali isn't "program" it is just distro that has has many pentest tools build in you should start learn about those tools. Metasploit would be good one to start with.

Actually, I tried out Metasploit, but my anti-virus kept going crazy and quarantining it lol

[gray-fox]

Actually, I tried out Metasploit, but my anti-virus kept going crazy and quarantining it lol

That's a one good reason for using virtualbox. And at start you should disable your target virtual machine's firewall and of course not install any AV software on it to make learning easier at beginning.
I'am just another noob myself but those are my hints for starting.

[nulldigit]

Install something like Debian or Slack or something. Kali isn't for you, not for a while. If you don't even know what partitioning is or how it works, then you need to start learning about a computer first, before you go try hacking anything.

[adderall]

Install something like Debian or Slack or something. Kali isn't for you, not for a while. If you don't even know what partitioning is or how it works, then you need to start learning about a computer first, before you go try hacking anything.

Hi everybody, thanks for the feedback. This is by far the best piece of advice I've received here so far haha. I haven't visited this forum in a while, but lately I have been taking online classes from the Linux foundation and Nulldigit is 100% correct lol. I didn't realize it when I originally started this thread, but even though I have learned a ton about Linux over the Summer, I still have a very long way to go before I can even attempt to hack or pen-test or do anything like that. I'll still be lurking here because there is so much I can learn from everybody here


Ever since installing Linux, I haven't used Windows, which is a program I've been using for almost 25 years. Linux is a little challenging to get used to, but I'm getting the hang of it, and I'm glad I made the switch.

Cheers

[Matriplex]

...

Sounds awesome! Good job, happy that you're starting to get into the world of *nix
Just a small correction, Windows is an OS not a program. I'm sure you knew that, but just in case.
Keep doing whatever you're doing because it sounds like you're learning!

[zeroMu]

I honestly don't know where you guys come up with the idea that Kali is not good to install to the HDD . I did a quick search on the official Kali site and could find no mention that kali is only meant to be run live or in a VM Infact There is an entire Sub- Forum dedicated to the many ways to install Kali Be it to HDD or USB with persistence or to a VM. So unless your running forensics with it please explain your reasoning and how you came to your conclusions.

[Stackprotector]

I honestly don't know where you guys come up with the idea that Kali is not good to install to the HDD . I did a quick search on the official Kali site and could find no mention that kali is only meant to be run live or in a VM Infact There is an entire Sub- Forum dedicated to the many ways to install Kali Be it to HDD or USB with persistence or to a VM. So unless your running forensics with it please explain your reasoning and how you came to your conclusions.

It is mainly based of the fact that Kali's older brother Backtrack was not safe to run as a normal OS (always on root etc). They made Kali in a way that it is a normal debian distro modified to be a pentest distribution.

Though in the end we will always discourage beginners to go ahead and install Kali and try out the nifty tools, which is basically a fucking bad idea.

[konos]

It is mainly based of the fact that Kali's older brother Backtrack was not safe to run as a normal OS (always on root etc). They made Kali in a way that it is a normal debian distro modified to be a pentest distribution.

Though in the end we will always discourage beginners to go ahead and install Kali and try out the nifty tools, which is basically a fucking bad idea.

Agreed, getting the fundementals of Linux is essential in the beginning stages anyway prior to diving into the world of pentesting.

I have however installed Kali on my HDD but I added a new user and set new permissions to avoid being logged into root unless I actually need it. To be honest, I much prefer using a live disc but I found Kali to perform better on my hardware than a VM or a Live CD for that matter.

[Syntax990]

Anybody who says Kali is a bad idea for a new user is just naive. Kali Linux is nothing more than a branded up version of Debian with a few hacking tools. In my opinion, Offensive Security kept it so pure to the traditional Debian base system they built from, there is almost no difference under the hood. Most pentesters follow a standard procedure to attack a system, which usually only requires knowledge on using the programs, the operating system is not really something they need to master, let alone even care about (To a degree). However I do aggree with Factionwars opinion that it usually is a fucking bad idea in the sense that some 12 year old now has the power to 'hax'

Installing Kali Linux is a piece of cake even for an extremely basic user, without ANY experience of Linux. Before bothering to install it, make sure you understand some fundamentals to how a Unix-Like system works (Such as su, root, and the philosophy behind an open-source operating system.

1) Either burn it to disk or use Unetbootin to put a bootable Linux Distribution on a USB. Some Linux distributions wont work this way, but learning this step means you can prepare almost any Linux Distribution

2.1) If your BIOS can support booting from USB, then the obvious step is to boot from USB. If you seriously fail this step then refer to the manual your motherboard came with and find out the how to change boot priority to USB.

2.2) If you are booting from optical media,  then don't worry about this step.

3.) Follow on screen instructions, preferably, do this to a clean hard drive so you don't have the fear of ruining data if you are not confident in partition tables.

3.1) If you are installing through a virtual machine, then don't worry about ruining data with partitioning.

4.) It should be done and working. Any particular issues are easily diagnosable. Considering you are new to the whole world of technicalness and Linux, it might seem a bit intimidating to use. But in the long run, assuming you have a brain and use it, then it will all fall together.

Best of luck man

[0E 800]

Anybody who says Kali is a bad idea for a new user is just naive. Kali Linux is nothing more than a branded up version of Debian with a few hacking tools.

Not very accurate. More like a few hundred.

Keep in mind that most pen-testing distros are geared more towards offensive attacks and not necessarily for defense. Also, most of the tools have not been audited.
example: https://www.obrela.com/home/security-labs/advisories/osi-advisory-osi-1402/

Its not recommended to have Kali installed to HD in the event you are performing pentests in foreign countries. As different countries have more harsh laws against it. How much quicker to simply remove a USB drive compared to wiping your hard drive in the event authorities want to confiscate your shit. Having an encrypted hard-drive only makes you appear more guilty.

This is of course my opinion and I am not a professional.

[Syntax990]

Keep in mind that most pen-testing distros are geared more towards offensive attacks and not necessarily for defense. Also, most of the tools have not been audited.
example: https://www.obrela.com/home/security-labs/advisories/osi-advisory-osi-1402/

Most of them as you said are geared towards offense other than defense. However in this instance, Kali Linux is specifically designed to be as vanilla as possible in terms of Debian packaging. Debian is a pretty secure distribution and Kali being almost identical under the hood gives it the stability and safety of Debian. (In my opinion)

The link you mentioned contains some vulnerabilities with ettercap, which is just one of the hundred tools (Clarified from earlier) tools that are on Kali. This vulnerability has already been fixed and is now on their repository. The Kali team do a great job at keeping them up to date, the link was aimed more towards ettercap users in general, rather than the Kali community.