One of the ethical hackers’ most preferred Linux distributions, Kali Linux, has received a new update. It is the second update of 2022, which is directly reflected in its version number: Kali Linux 2022.2. This release brings enhancements, bug fixes, package updates as well as new hacking tools to the operating system.
Latest desktop environment versions
Kali Linux 2022.2 comes with GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce desktop environment options. It uses the latest GNOME version, 42, and KDE Plasma 5.24 LTS. GNOME 42 brings dark/light theme selection to Kali Linux as well as an integrated screenshot tool. KDE Plasma 5.24 LTS also brings several features to the operating system which you can read the full details in our coverage for it. The Offensive Security team brought some changes to Xfce as well, such as disabling motherboard beep on logout dialog, setting default wallpaper for multi-monitor setups, fixing mouse pointer size, and a simplified panel layout for ARM devices.
The application icons have been updated with Kali Linux 2022.2. Alongside the icons themselves, the behavior related to the app icons and their reflection in the app dashboard has received a fix. The custom icons of Kali Linux for apps will show up correctly on the app dashboard. However, this fix currently does not affect the Xfce desktop environment option.
Configuration files are automatically copied
The configuration files for the applications are stored outside of the $HOME directory. However, some programs do not support this and users had to copy the files to the $HOME directory. Kali Linux 2022.2 brings an automated copying feature that copies any file from /etc/skel to the $HOME folder without rewriting the files. It also delivers shared folder support for VirtualBox instances. The Terminal has received some improvements which can be seen below:
- Small changes to the Zsh syntax-highlighting colors to improve legibility.
- python3-pip and python3-virtualenv are now included by default Kali installations.
- Added shell autocompletion for John The Ripper.
- All …2john tools (zip2john, 7z2john, pdf2john, etc.) can now be called directly by just typing their name, no need to cd /usr/share/john/ first.
- Resource packages (wordlists, windows-resources, powersploit, etc.) now show a much more clear output with colors differentiating the type of file or directory.
Kali Linux 2022.2 delivers the new tools that can be seen below:
- BruteShark: Network Forensic Analysis Tool (NFAT)
- Evil-WinRM: Ultimate WinRM shell
- Hakrawler: Web crawler designed for easy, quick discovery of endpoints and assets
- Httpx: Fast and multi-purpose HTTP toolkit
- LAPSDumper: Dumps LAPS passwords
- PhpSploit: Stealth post-exploitation framework
- PEDump: Dump Win32 executable files
- SentryPeer: SIP peer-to-peer honeypot for VoIP
- Sparrow-wifi: Graphical Wi-Fi Analyzer for Linux
- wifipumpkin3: Powerful framework for rogue access points
With this release, Kali Linux introduces Win-KeX 3.1 which eliminates a restriction preventing GUI applications from being run as root. Users can now run any GUI application with the sudo command via the Terminal. The Kali NetHunter app also received an update; adding the WPS Attacks tab utilizing OneShot. The NetHunter app now supports all TicWatch Pro versions as well. Kali ARM release has received various improvements for Raspberry Pi, Pinebook Pro, USB Armory MKII, and Radxa Zero.
A great screensaver
Finally, Kali Linux 2022.2 adds kali-screensaver to its repository which is the video file as a screensaver that has been created for the April Fools. The video file contains references from the popular media’s representation of the “hacking” process. That includes the legendary “Knock, knock, Neo.” from the first Matrix movie as well. The screensaver is pretty cool and it can be installed on Kali Linux by using the following terminal command:
sudo apt -y install kali-screensaverWindows and macOS users can also set this screensaver by downloading the video file, and then setting it as a screensaver by utilizing Videosaver (Windows) or SaveHollywood (macOS):
Click here to download the video file of the Kali Screensaver
Upgrade Kali Linux to 2022.2
To update your Kali Linux instance to the latest version, you can use the following commands:
echo "deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade
[ -f /var/run/reboot-required ] && sudo reboot -fKali Linux 2022.2 Download
You can also use the following links to download the ISO files for a fresh installation:
| Name | File Type | Size | Download | SHA256sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64-bit Installer | ISO | 2.8 GB | Direct | Torrent | fa28a2cd45f43e654db0aaf4856f505fd721de44bc3c4b7e8e823919899156e0 |
| 32-bit Installer | ISO | 2.5 GB | Direct | Torrent | 0f3351282a25567b48110e291b22c4ed80171c4eefb7549c85e39b8baa0a6ec1 |
| Apple M1 | ISO | 2.3 GB | Direct | Torrent | d5a1b57cfa671926f0417210d0b1d1c2182744e65b42821dbc8531e44e9c7a3d |
| VMware Image 64-bit | 7z | 2.0 GB | Direct | Torrent | 71c04f94831ad227f893533f604974f5de2b29be9b3b8deb54fe93949dbe7a8a |
| VirtualBox Image 64-bit | OVA | 4.0 GB | Direct | Torrent | 649d35f610205828a08c86d862dc6e660dced6553e55f62acf59d57643c5031f |
| WSL | – | – | Microsoft Store | – |
For other download options, visit the Kali Linux official download page.
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