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Whether you’re interested in penetration testing or simply curious about cybersecurity, I recommend one of these specialized Linux distributions. Let’s compare.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Kali Linux and Parrot OS are geared toward penetration testing.
- Only Parrot OS has an option for general-purpose use.
- You can download and install each of these distros for free.
Cybersecurity. The word can bring to mind TV shows and movies in which a roomful of tech elites, sporting headsets and staring at massive arrays of screens, are trying to track down who did what to whom.
Whew.
In reality, cybersecurity isn’t always about rooms deep within the bowels of unmarked, windowless buildings, populated with women and men who are Sheldon Cooper-level brilliant. Sometimes, cybersecurity is one person at home running tests on their own LAN — and the machines on it — to find vulnerabilities that can be fixed.
Also: This Debian-based Linux distro has one of the smartest security features I’ve tested in years
That’s where the likes of Kali Linux and Parrot OS come into play.
Both distributions are geared toward those interested in cybersecurity and pentesting.
What is pentesting?
Pentesting — short for penetration testing — can simulate cybersecurity attacks on a network or system to find and exploit weaknesses before hackers do. The thing is, until a vulnerability is found, it cannot be patched. Those vulnerabilities could be as simple as weak user passwords or as complicated as vulnerable OS kernels.
If that interests you, you’ll be glad to know there are two Linux distributions purpose-built for testing your LAN/systems for vulnerabilities.
Let’s take a look at each.
What is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux can be daunting because of all the challenging tools.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
When people think of pentesting distributions, Kali Linux is usually the first that comes to mind.
The first thing you should know is that Kali Linux is based on Debian, which means it has access to the standard Debian repositories, which include a wealth of installable applications.
Next, you’ll want to know that Kali Linux allows you to choose from the GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce desktop environments.
Kali Linux also uses a security-focused kernel that is regularly patched and highly customized for pentesting and wireless injection.
There are also the 600+ preinstalled applications, most of which are geared toward information gathering, vulnerability analysis, wireless attacks, web application testing, and more. Many of those applications include industry-specific modifications, such as those for computer forensics, reverse engineering, and vulnerability detection.
And then there are the two modes: Forensics Mode for investigation and “Kali Undercover,” which blends the OS with Windows.
Does this all sound over your head? Kali Linux could still be useful to you. Allow me to explain: Generally speaking, Kali Linux isn’t a general-purpose operating system; it’s built specifically for penetration testing. But I’d argue that Kali Linux is also a great platform for learning about cybersecurity.
For example, you might want to learn how to map your network. For that, Kali Linux includes nmap. You might also want to test for password weaknesses, so you’d use John The Ripper. Once you start learning how to use those tools, you begin to better understand the role cybersecurity plays in IT.
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