What's the advantage of Kali Linux?

[Terminal Velocity]

If all the tools that included in Kali are available for other distributions why someone would want to install it? What's the advantage Kali offers in networks and penetration testing over other distributions with the same set of tools?

 

[Brickwizard]

What's the advantage Kali

There are around a dozen or so pen testing distributions, and as you say most of the tools are available in all of them, why kali probably because it is the son of Backtrack and granddaughter of whappix, so has quite a long linage, the tools have been developed not only from the Kali stream but also Parrot sec and several others,
Many of the alternatives are easier to install than Kali, BUT it must be said anyone wishing to install and use one of them still needs to be Linux experienced and terminal competent before they start.
Some will say its because you can work to accreditation, true, but this is also possible with several of the others as well,
then we have those who think it kool !. those who have only seen Kali in the movies/on TV and do not know about other offerings.
and finally the largest majority who refuse to read distribution documents, and believe 15 yrs of using Microsoft qualifies them as experienced Linux users [these are unfortunately the ones we see most of and the ones who brick their machines]

 

[f33dm3bits]

Do you mean what is the advantage as a desktop or as a security/pen-testing toolbox?

 

[GatorsFan]

Basically there is no advantage - just popularity

 

[Terminal Velocity]

Do you mean what is the advantage as a desktop or as a security/pen-testing toolbox?

What is the advantage as a security/pen-testing toolbox... Compared say with a Debian with security/pen-testing tools installed

 

[GatorsFan]

What is the advantage as a security/pen-testing toolbox... Compared say with a Debian with security/pen-testing tools installed

Kali is based on Debian testing again no advantage

 

[Terminal Velocity]

Kali is based on Debian testing again no advantage

Someone asked me this and I said that there is no advantage over any other distribution with the same set of tools installed but I wasn't sure... Yes, I'm a Linux guru in my neighborhood and people asking me things χD

 

[f33dm3bits]

What is the advantage as a security/pen-testing toolbox... Compared say with a Debian with security/pen-testing tools installed

Only advantage is that all the security tools are already installed, I would think with Debian a lot of those tools can be installed from the default repos and the ones that can't you would have to install manually. I would think the same goes for ParrotOS when it comes to the installed security tools.

 

[Brickwizard]

I would think the same goes for ParrotOS when it comes to the installed security tools.

There are many choices with Parrot, parrot security, and Hack the box come with a full set of tools installed, parrot home comes with a few basic tools installed, Parrot architect is the build it yourself version where you choose and install your own selection [there are also specialist builds for PI, Cloud and WSL & ARM] and again Parrot is based on Debian [12 at the moment]

 

[CaffeineAddict]

If all the tools that included in Kali are available for other distributions why someone would want to install it? What's the advantage Kali offers in networks and penetration testing over other distributions with the same set of tools?

It's convenience because it's AIO (All In One).

Although what's most important is that Kali is meant to be used for security testing, mostly defensive testing,
but it's a misconception that a hacker (or one willing to become one) will use Kali for hacks or to learn hacking.

No hacker will really use Kali to because Kali isn't meant for every day use but temporary tests, but to hack you need daily driver because majority of hacking is about programming which one will be doing over a week or months at least rather than using ready to use tools in Kali.

There are some use cases for offensive tasks but it won't get you far except to discover and understand how stuff works.

Therefore Kali is useful to use the tools, but for defensive purposes, to test systems and security holes with known exploits and tools that are offered.

 

[f33dm3bits]

And the advantage is that you can call yourself a L33t H4X0r if you run Kali because Mr Robot used it, which you can't say about Debian or Parrot.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

And the advantage is that you can call yourself a L33t H4X0r if you run Kali because Mr Robot used it

Lol, some folks do call themself like this probably believing they've entered into the world of hacking and harvested all the knowledge of the planet about IT.

Hacking today is at least 20 times more difficult than some 20 or so years ago.

 

[blunix]

If all the tools that included in Kali are available for other distributions why someone would want to install it? What's the advantage Kali offers in networks and penetration testing over other distributions with the same set of tools?

its just building a distro where all the h4x0r tools are already installed, so you dont have to run around and compile things from github together.

It also is supposed to make you look cool I think. I kinda admire the marketing that kali did. Qubes could totally use that.

Maybe being a hacker (offense) is just cooler than being a.. hacker? (defense)

 

[Trenix25]

It was my understanding that Kali Linux also has the basic stuff that people might use every day, like a web browser, and office software. It also has kdenlive. That office software would sure come in handy when writing those post hacking reports to be delivered to the client. I do hear that it's a bit short on games though. Is there something I should be aware of here? What basic stuff does Kali lack that other distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, or Mint might offer?

Signed,

Matthew Campbell

 

[Brickwizard]

What basic stuff does Kali lack

Quite a lot, BUT this is the important bit, from the [I cant be botherd to read] Kali docs pages

A minimal and trusted set of repositories: given the aims and goals of Kali Linux, maintaining the integrity of the system as a whole is absolutely key. With that goal in mind, the set of upstream software sources which Kali uses is kept to an absolute minimum. Many new Kali users are tempted to add additional repositories to their sources.list, but doing so runs a very serious risk of breaking your Kali Linux installation.

 

[blunix]

It was my understanding that Kali Linux also has the basic stuff that people might use every day, like a web browser, and office software. It also has kdenlive. That office software would sure come in handy when writing those post hacking reports to be delivered to the client. I do hear that it's a bit short on games though. Is there something I should be aware of here? What basic stuff does Kali lack that other distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, or Mint might offer?

Signed,

Matthew Campbell

yes it ALSO has that, like a plane also has wheels, but you dont drive it to go grocery shopping every day. Its just not designed for that.
You CAN do that of course, and it WILL make you look cool I honestly think that is part of the kali marketing strategy.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

What basic stuff does Kali lack that other distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, or Mint might offer?

Stability and freedom to add more software that's relevant to you and remove what's not needed.

Kali offers new software ASAP, which makes it unstable and insecure for daily use.
There is a ton of preinstalled software which you'll never use or need, but surplus software which isn't needed or used is insecure for an OS for daily use.

It's just better to start with minimal system, like netinst debian and then add software that you need or want to learn about.
I think breaking debian with new custom installed software is better than using Kali for everyday use and to learn.

 

[Trenix25]

Why would they want to deliberately add software to their "stable" release that would make the installation unstable and insecure? This is supposed to be a security oriented Linux distribution. I really don't need all that much. I'll need Firefox, XTerm, a file manager, a graphics viewer, a pdf viewer and editor, some office software, the Audacity sound editor, the VLC media player, kdenlive, and the ability to create and burn DVD discs, along with ffmpeg. I'd be adding Telegram and the Tor Browser. I would presume that nftables would be available. Note to Brickwizard: I don't need to be scolded for asking a simple question. Everyone else here gets to ask questions and you don't treat them that way.

I just downloaded the amd64 VMPlayer version of Kali Linux 2024.2 just to try it out.

Signed,

Matthew Campbell

 

[Trenix25]

yes it ALSO has that, like a plane also has wheels, but you dont drive it to go grocery shopping every day. Its just not designed for that.
You CAN do that of course, and it WILL make you look cool I honestly think that is part of the kali marketing strategy.

I just want to get away from Debian because it's a buggy mess. I need to find a security oriented Linux distribution that I can use every day. Ubuntu only offers updates every six months so that just doesn't cut it. I will need security updates more often than that. Yes, they probably have a security repository, but it's not a security oriented Linux distribution.

What about Parrot, or is that not a safe question to ask either?

Signed,

Matthew Campbell

 

[CaffeineAddict]

This is supposed to be a security oriented Linux distribution.

I just want to get away from Debian because it's a buggy mess. I need to find a security oriented Linux distribution that I can use every day.

Kali is security testing orieneted yes but NOT security orieneted distro itself.
Kali is pretty much insecure IMO to use for everyday life and not even measurable to debian's security.