Shulou(Shulou.com)06/02 Report--

Kali Linux is one of the best Linux distributions for hackers and security enthusiasts.

Because it deals with sensitive topics like hacking, it's like a double-edged sword. We discussed this in a detailed review of Kali Linux in the past, so I won't repeat it.

While you can install Kali Linux by replacing your existing operating system, using it via a virtual machine would be a better and safer option.

With Virtual Box, you can treat Kali Linux like a regular application on Windows / Linux, almost as easy as running VLC or games on your system.

It is also safe to use Kali Linux in virtual machines. Whatever you do in Kali Linux will not affect your "host system"(i.e. your original Windows or Linux operating system). Your actual operating system will not be affected, and the data in the host system will be safe.

How to install Kali Linux on VirtualBox

I will use VirtualBox here. It's a great open source virtualization solution for anyone (professional or personal). It can be used free of charge.

In this tutorial, we'll be focusing specifically on installing Kali Linux, but you can install almost any other operating system that already has ISO files or pre-built virtual machine storage files.

Note: These same steps apply to VirtualBox running on Windows / Linux.

As I have already mentioned, you can install Windows or Linux as a host. But, in this article, I installed Windows 10 (don't hate me!), I will try to install Kali Linux gradually in VirtualBox.

And, best of all, even if you happen to use a Linux distribution as your primary operating system, the same steps apply perfectly!

You want to know how? Let's see…

Step-by-step instructions for installing Kali Linux on VirtualBox

We will use a custom Kali Linux image made specifically for VirtualBox. Of course, you can also download the ISO file for Kali Linux and create a new virtual machine, but why do that when you have an easy alternative?

Download and install VirtualBox

The first thing you need to do is download and install VirtualBox from Oracle's official website.

Once you download the installer, just double-click it to install VirtualBox. The same is true for VirtualBox on Ubuntu / Fedora Linux.

Download the Kali Linux virtual image ready

After VirtualBox is installed successfully, go to Offensive Security's download page to download the virtual machine image for VirtualBox. If you change your mind and want to use VMware, there's one for it.

Kali Linux Virtual Box Image

As you can see, the file size is well over 3 GB and you should download it using torrent mode or using download manager.

Install Kali Linux on VirtualBox

Once VirtualBox is installed and the Kali Linux image downloaded, you simply import it into VirtualBox and it will work.

Here's how to import a VirtualBox image of Kali Linux:

Step 1: Start VirtualBox. You'll notice there's an "Import" button, click it.

Click on the "Import" button

Step 2: Next, browse to find the file you just downloaded and select it to import (as you can see in the image below). File names should start with "kali linux" and end with the ".ova" extension.

Import a Kali Linux image

After selecting, click "Next" to proceed.

Step 3: You will now see the settings for the virtual machine you want to import. You can customize them, that's your freedom. If you want to use the default settings, that's fine.

You need to choose a path that has enough storage space. I would never recommend C: drive on Windows.

Import hard drives as VDI

Here, a VDI hard drive refers to actually mounting the hard drive by allocating its storage space settings.

After completing the setup, click "Import" and wait for a while.

Step 4: You will now see that the virtual machine is listed. So, just click "Start" to launch it.

You may initially get errors due to USB port 2.0 controller support, which you can disable or simply install another package to fix by following the on-screen instructions. It's done now!

Kali Linux running in VirtualBox

I hope this guide helps you install Kali Linux easily on VirtualBox. Of course, Kali Linux has a lot of useful tools available for penetration testing--good luck!

Note: Kali Linux and Ubuntu are both Debian-based. If you encounter any problems or errors with Kali Linux, you can follow the tutorials available on the Internet for Ubuntu or Debian.

Free Kali Linux Guide

If you're just starting out with Kali Linux, it's a good idea to learn how to use Kali Linux.

Offensive Security, the company behind Kali Linux, has created a guide that covers the basics of Linux, Kali Linux basics, configuration, and setup. It also has chapters on penetration testing and security tools.

Basically, it has everything you need to know to start using Kali Linux.

If you have problems or would like to share your experience running Kali Linux on VirtualBox, please let us know in the comments below.

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.