Best Linux Distributions for Hacking: Pentesting Distros and Audits

Linux is said to be one of the most secure operating systems you can use. One of the most attractive features is the ability to choose from a variety of distributions, however we should not just stick with that. There are several Linux distributions that allow you to perform various pentesting tasks and security audits . The latter are becoming increasingly important in the field of information security and cybersecurity, today in this article we present some of the most complete distributions for it. You sign up?

As we will see below, there are no excuses to have access to these great tools, they are very complete, usable on multiple platforms and even customizable if we have particular needs. Likewise, we must bear in mind that we can choose between multiple distributions that are oriented to certain aspects or others, some of them are better in certain areas, and worse in others, but there is nothing better for a user than the fact that they can choose among several options.

First of all, you have probably read somewhere about the term distro . What does it mean? Well, it is a diminutive in the English language that refers to the word “distribution”. However, distros have become popular in the Linux arena. So, in general, any of the Linux distributions cited in this or any other article on the subject, will be referred to as “distros” in most cases. However, we must begin the tour of some of the most outstanding and we cannot start without the most important distro in its field.

Recommendations for Linux distros geared towards pentesting

kali linux

Kali Linux

As we mentioned earlier, it is impossible to recommend Linux distros without starting with Kali Linux . It is a Debian-based distribution that has an important focus on pentesting at a very advanced level, in addition to conducting security audits. It is characterized by having a large number of pre-installed tools , in total there are more than 600 tools that will allow us to perform audits in various areas, such as Wi-Fi networks. These tools are divided into categories, including pentesting, detailed security investigations, forensic informatics and even reverse engineering. Kali Linux exists since 2013, and is practically a must for any security enthusiast or professional try this distro

Do you want to download the tool? You can download it from the official website and it has no cost. Remember that for a better experience, you should always download the latest version. Not long ago, version 2020.1a has been made available. Don’t know what tools to start with? We encourage you to take a look at the list of all the tools available for a variety of purposes, from information gathering through delicate vulnerability analysis activities to hardware-level attacks.

Another very interesting aspect is that we have .OVA images available to import into VirtualBox or VMWare and make use of this distribution in virtual machines, to test in a controlled environment.

Parrot Security

It’s a Debian-based distro that focuses on both security and privacy. It is characterized by being completely portable and is like a huge laboratory for conducting cybersecurity operations in general. Whether it’s pentesting, forensic computing, and reverse engineering. Therefore, it provides you with the necessary tools so that you can develop your own security solutions and thus, manage to keep your data with a high level of security. Another feature that Parrot highlights is that it is very light, so it can be installed and run even on hardware with limited resources that are not up to date with the latest hardware.

It is completely free and you can download it as soon as possible in any of the versions you need. It is possible to use on different popular platforms such as Windows, MacOS and other Linux distros thanks to the technology of Docker containers . However, and if your needs vary, you can download experimental versions or the classic ISO images to install in a dedicated way on any computer.

Not only do you have complete documentation on the use of this distro, but you also have training opportunities to improve your skills according to what you want to achieve.

Samurai Web Testing Framework

It is a framework that works as a virtual machine, which is compatible with VirtualBox and VMWare . It is specially pre-configured to become an environment focused on pentesting, and has several free and open source tools. These tools are focused on all phases of pentesting, starting with reconnaisance (recognition) , there are scanner-type tools such as Fierce and Maltego. If mapping is done, you will use WebScarab and ratproxy.

Coming to the discovery step, Samurai offers you the w3af and burp tools. Finally, for exploitation there are the BeEF tools, AJAXShell and others. However, if you need additional help and support, this framework has a wiki that works as an information center that is permanently available while testing. You can download it here .

Backbox

It is another distro oriented to pentesting and other security oriented tasks. Provides tools that support the development of network and system analysis. Among the tasks one can perform is web application analysis, network analysis, stress testing and sniffing. Therefore, it is possible to carry out forensic computer analysis, vulnerability assessments in systems and exploitation in general. This distro is based on Ubuntu and has a great level of customization behind, so it aims to be one of the best and most complete solutions that we recommend.

The best thing about Backbox is that, if you want to customize it even more, there is no problem doing it. You can adapt it according to your purposes, adding tools that are not present in the default distro. In addition, you can send your contribution and contribute greatly to the improvement of this security-oriented environment.

Would you like to try it? You can access its official portal to download it and access a super complete documentation so that you have installation, use, customization and support guides for the community in general.