Hacking has become popular because of the rapid transmission of information online. Ethical hacking helps identify vulnerabilities in a system and increases security by repairing them. It also secures systems against hackers who might steal valuable information.

If you're interested in ethical hacking or want to learn how it's done, you definitely must have heard of Kali Linux. This OS has various features and tools, but there is always an argument on why hackers use Kali Linux for cybersecurity-related work. So, in this post, we will cover why ethical hackers prefer Kali Linux for their cybersecurity and penetration testing needs.

What Is Kali Linux, and Why Do Hackers Use It?

Kali Linux is a Debian-based security distribution initially designed for penetration testing and network analysis. The developers of Kali Linux were Devon Kearns and Mati Aharoni in 2013. This operating system is absolutely free and you can use it on a laptop/computer and smartphone.

Kali Linux supports more than 500 penetration testing and cybersecurity-related applications. It is an open-source operating system, so its code is freely available online, which means you can take a look and tweak it according to your needs. It also supports multiple languages and includes many customization features. The latest version of Kali Linux has some of the most excellent features to simplify advanced tasks easily.

Kali Linux has many security-centric applications that simplify ethical hacking. It is a convenient and highly secured Linux OS that also protects your privacy. So here are a few important reasons that make Kali Linux so popular with hackers.

1. Requires Minimal System Resources

Kali Linux undoubtedly requires low-end components to work perfectly. Installing Kali Linux on a system is very simple as it only requires:

Therefore, many hackers recommend Kali Linux since it works on low-end devices and is portable and easy to use. You can also use it through a CD-DVD drive or USB stick. If you want to try Kali Linux in VirtualBox, then don't worry because Kali Linux works smoothly on virtual machines as well.

2. Kali Linux Is Good for Beginners

Kali Linux has some of the most magnificent features and highly customizable options, making it suitable for an ethical hacking beginner. So if you are a little familiar with Ubuntu, you can definitely start your hacking journey on Kali Linux.

In case you don't know how to run commands on Linux, then it will be difficult for you to use it. However, as a cybersecurity enthusiast, it is important to have deep knowledge of the Linux command line, but you need to have basic information about it to work on Kali Linux. Kali Linux has a simple user interface and easy-to-use tools which help you understand core hacking concepts.

3. Kali Linux Is Legal

Kali Linux is a legal operating system used for professional work, including practicing penetration testing and hacking. It is entirely legal to use Kali Linux in white-hat hacking. However, if you are using it for illicit purposes, it is illegal because there is an enormous difference between white-hat hacking and black-hat hacking.

Kali Linux is available under the GNU Public License, which means anyone can use it on their devices for free. Additionally, this operating system is also safe to use as long as you don't get involved in any suspicious activity.

4. Kali Linux Ships With Hundreds of Testing Tools

As we have mentioned earlier, Kali Linux supports hundreds of unique tools related to hacking. That's why it's a popular choice among hackers. Here is a list of the top five tools you can use on Kali Linux for penetration testing:

1. Nmap

Nmap is a network scanner used to scan networks for extracting information. It is an open-source tool that sends packets to a host to analyze its response and generates the required details. You can also use it for OS detection, host discovery, and scanning open ports.

2. Burp Suite

Burp Suite works like a proxy, which means all requests from a web browser pass through it. This transmission of requests allows users to make any changes according to their needs. Burp Suite is suitable for testing vulnerabilities related to the system or web. This tool has free and paid editions, and you can get more features in the paid version than the community (free) edition.

3. Aircrack-ng

Aircrack is a WPA/WPA2 cracking, analyzing, and hash capturing tool. It is a fantastic tool that you can use for Wi-Fi hacking. Aircrack-ng can capture packages and read hashes as well. Additionally, it can crack hashes through multiple attacking systems. This tool can easily focus on identifying essential areas of Wi-Fi security.

4. Metasploit Framework

Metasploit Framework is one of the widely used penetration testing frameworks. Generally, it works on a local network, but you can also use it on the host server through port forwarding. Metasploit is a text-based tool, but you can download its GUI package, i.e., Armitage. Armitage turns Metasploit into a more simple to use and convenient tool.

5. Netcat

Netcat is used for network debugging and daemon testing. It is the best networking tool because of its options and enormous features list.

You can use this tool for different tasks, including port redirection, listing, and scanning. Netcat is also used to operate remote connections, UNIX-domain sockets, etc.

Kali Linux: Heaven for Hackers?

In this post, we have outlined why hackers prefer Kali Linux over other operating systems. We have included every aspect related to the supremeness of Kali Linux in the hacking world. The above information is based on the features and user reviews of Kali Linux for ethical hacking.

If you also want to use Kali Linux and start hacking, we recommend you only be a white-hat hacker. This way, you can get multiple opportunities in the network security industry, and help organizations secure their system from cybersecurity attacks.