Kali Linux

Kali Linux is the standard-issue toolkit distribution for penetration testers and security researchers, developed by the training company OffSec as the successor to BackTrack. It builds on Debian as a rolling platform and preinstalls hundreds of specialized tools for reconnaissance, exploitation, wireless analysis, reverse engineering, and digital forensics, organized into task-based menus. The default desktop is Xfce, and thoughtful touches abound: an undercover mode that mimics a Windows desktop, a forensic boot mode that avoids touching evidence drives, and builds for ARM boards, containers, mobile devices through NetHunter, and Windows environments via WSL. The system defaults to an unprivileged user rather than root. Kali is intended for professionals and students operating with authorization, and most of its tooling assumes you know the rules of engagement. Practicing in an OpenFactory browser VM keeps that exploration contained and disposable.

Select a version of Kali Linux to try online: