Learning Kali Linux, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1. Foundations of Kali Linux

Kali Linux is a specialized distribution of the Linux operating system based on Ubuntu Linux, which in turn is based on Debian Linux. Kali is targeted at people who want to engage in security work. This may be security testing, it may be exploit development or reverse engineering, or it may be digital forensics. One idea to keep in mind about Linux distributions is that they aren’t the same. Linux is really just the kernel—​the actual operating system and the core of the distribution. Each distribution layers additional software on top of that core, making it unique. In the case of Kali, what gets layered on are not only the essential utilities but also hundreds of software packages that are specific to security work.

One of the really nice features of Linux, especially as compared to other operating systems, is that it is almost completely customizable. This includes selecting the shell you run programs from, which includes the terminal environment where you type commands as well as the graphical desktop you use. Even beyond that, you can change the look of each of those elements once you have selected the environment. Using Linux allows you to make the system operate the way you want it to benefit your working style rather than having the system force the way you function because of how it works, looks, and feels.

Linux actually has a long history, if you trace it back to its beginnings. Understanding this history will help provide some context ...