Kali Linux 2020.4 is released and ready for download. In the latest version, the Kali team switched from Bash to ZSH as its default shell. For the next releases, ZSH will be the default shell for its desktop images (amd64/i386) and cloud. The Kali team also announced that for other platforms, such as ARM, containers, NetHunter, and WSL, Kali still uses Bash but plans to switch to ZSH in the later versions. Users can switch to ZSH by simply applying the default zshrc file.
Bash shell makeover and AWS EC2 cloud image refresh
The Kali team also updated the Bash prompt to make it feel similar to its ZSH prompt. The first changes in the Bash prompt were made in the previous release, changing for non-root users, from red to blue.
Kali Linux has been on AWS since 1.0.6. In Kali 2020.2, the team introduces a fully automated system in place. During the changeover, they decided to ship the image without any GUI or any tools by default, to give the cleanest, smallest image as possible. However, in the 2020.4 version, the team has created a new metapackage, “kali-linux-headless”, and included it which only has the default set of command-line tools. The team also worked with AWS to get Kali Linux added to “GovCloud”.
New tools and updates
The latest version also brings new tools and updates. The kernel is upgraded to the 5.9 version. Kali also switched to “proxychains4” as the default. GNOME is also updated to 3.38 and KDE to 5.19. The team also announced that they are producing a VMware Vagrant image.
New tools in Kali Linux:
- Apple bleee
- CertGraph
- dnscat2
- FinalRecon
- goDoH
- hostapd-mana
- Metasploit Framework v6
- Whatmask
Download Kali Linux 2020.4
Kali Linux 64-Bit (Installer) | ISO | Torrent | 4.1G | SHA256Sum: 50492d761e400c2b5e22c8f253dd6f75c27e4bc84e33c2eff272476a0588fb02
Kali Linux 64-Bit (Live) | ISO | Torrent | 3.3G | SHA256Sum: 4d764a2ba67f41495c17247184d24b7f9ac9a7c57415bbbed663402aec78952b
Kali Linux 64-Bit (NetInstaller) | ISO | Torrent | 471M | SHA256Sum: fbbb3b86567892f91b8298be7c03e9be8c78c6f048e4c6fff539948743465d79
Kali Linux 32-Bit (Installer) | ISO | Torrent | 3.4G | SHA256Sum: 39aa231bc209e19a2fd91c145f23a8dde70a4bc540877a77e56b1c7a733337fd
Kali Linux 32-Bit (Live) | ISO | Torrent | 2.8G | SHA256Sum: 10e81e2d1ed7bc100398871db45b628c11199a9901b1935bc56b5a8e9dc62667
Kali Linux 32-Bit (NetInstaller) | ISO | Torrent | 330M | SHA256Sum: 98bfcaef596d00d3b9a395ee4885ad3f91c0078f86cfe8c80653753dc7077fd3
If you want to download VM or ARM alternatives, go to Kali Linux Downloads page.
FAQ
What is the latest Kali Linux version?
The latest Kali Linux version is Kali Linux 2023.1 and it was released on 13 March 2023.
Is Kali Linux free?
Yes, Kali Linux is completely free to use.
Is Kali Linux illegal?
Using Kali Linux is not illegal. It is mostly used by ethical hackers for penetration tests to harden an organization’s security. Utilizing Kali Linux tools with malicious intentions is illegal.
Is Kali Linux free?
Yes, Kali Linux is completely free to use.
What is Kali Linux based on?
Kali Linux is based on Debian.
What is Kali Linux used for?
Kali Linux is used for performing penetration tests and it comes with several tools. Hackers also use the distribution to utilize its tools for malicious actions.
Is Kali Linux easy to learn?
Kali Linux is a normal Linux distribution, so it is not hard to learn for an average Linux user. However, learning to use the hacking tools requires expertise.
Is BackTrack and Kali Linux the same?
BackTrack and Kali Linux is the same distribution. The name of the distribution was changed in 2013.
Is there a Kali Linux alternative?
Parrot OS can be used as an alternative for Kali Linux.
What is the default username and password for Kali Linux 2023?
The default username and password for Kali Linux 2023 is “kali/kali“.
Can I install Kali Linux on Windows?
You can install Kali Linux from Microsoft Store on Windows 10 after enabling Windows Subsystem for Linux. It is also possible to install Kali Linux on Windows by third-party virtual machine software such as VMWare and Virtual Box.
What desktop environment does Kali Linux use?
Kali Linux uses the XFCE desktop environment as default. Users can change to GNOME Shel or KDE Plasma during installation.
How many GB is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux has several images with varying sizes between 2.3 GB and 9.4 GB as offline installers.
Can Kali Linux be installed on a virtual machine?
Yes, Kali Linux can be installed on a virtual machine. A virtual machine (VM) allows you to run an operating system within another operating system. This means that you can install Kali Linux on a virtual machine and run it on top of your current operating system, without the need to replace it or partition your hard drive. To install Kali Linux on VMWare, you can refer to our article: How to install a Linux Distro on VMware Workstation