Kali Linux is a Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is maintained and funded by Offensive Security. The software is based on the testing branch of the Debian Linux Distribution: most packages Kali uses are imported from the Debian repositories. Kali Linux has gained popularity in the cybersecurity community due to its comprehensive set of tools designed for penetration testing, vulnerability analysis, and reverse engineering.
What is Kali Linux?
- Any Linux distro can be used for pentesting, but it requires manual setup. Kali comes pre-configured with tools, so professionals can start working right away.
- Kali Linux has a strong community with forums, chat channels, tool listings, a bug tracker, and user-submitted tool suggestions.
- A version of Kali is always close to you, no matter where you need it. Mobile devices, Containers, ARM, Cloud providers, and others are all available.