Kali Linux 2021.3 was released three months ago. The Debian-based Linux distro has now released with a new release, bringing new hacking tools and the newest packages and bug fixes. Kali Linux 2021.4 runs on Linux kernel 5.14 and supports Apple Silicon (M1) Macs. The new version also supports Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W single-board computer and extended compatibility for the Samba client.
Nine new tools for ethical hackers
The default desktop environment on the new Kali Linux is the same as before, Xfce that received a bunch of enhancements in this release. With the new release, the panel layout is tweaked to optimize the horizontal space and add two new widgets – showing CPU usage and VPN IP. The developers also configured the Task Manager to show “icons only”, changed the appearance of “Buttons” and assigned it to the workplaces overview. The number of virtual workspaces was increased to 4.
The Kali Linux team also announced that they upgraded the open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools-desktop packages for VMware users. As the previous Kali Linux releases, according to the official announcement, there are nine new hacking tools added as the following:
- Dufflebag – Search exposed EBS volumes for secrets
- Maryam – Open-source Intelligence (OSINT) Framework
- Name-That-Hash – Do not know what type of hash it is? Name That Hash will name that hash type!
- Proxmark3 – if you are into Proxmark3 and RFID hacking
- Reverse Proxy Grapher – graphviz graph illustrating your reverse proxy flow
- S3Scanner – Scan for open S3 buckets and dump the contents
- Spraykatz – Credentials gathering tool automating remote procdump and parse of lsass process.
- truffleHog – Searches through git repositories for high entropy strings and secrets, digging deep into commit history
- Web of trust grapher (wotmate) – reimplement the defunct PGP pathfinder without needing anything other than your own keyring
If you are an existing Kali Linux user and want to update your system to the latest Kali Linux 2021.4, run the command below on your terminal.
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgradeFor a clean installation, you can download Kali Linux 2021.4 from here.
FAQ
What is the latest Kali Linux version?
The latest Kali Linux version is Kali Linux 2022.4 and it was released on 06 December 2022.
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 create VM and install a Linux distro on VMWare Workstation