Also known as BackTrack Linux, Kali Linux is an open-source platform available in the market. It is based on the Debian Linux distribution system and mainly built for advancement Penetration testing and security auditing. It was a rebuilt version of BackTrack Linux and launched on March 13, 2013, under the Debian development standards.
One of the principal aspects of Kali Linux is its pre-introduced security device suite that can be utilized for an assortment of cybersecurity purposes. It also includes entrance testing and double-dealing.
Since Kali Linux incorporates many tools and features and is accessible publicly, it has become vital to network security experts and the cybersecurity industry.
Further, while installing Kali Linux, the user is asked to change the default password in the Kali Linux machine. Thus, it is an essential step if you are installing it for the first time.
Key Features of Kali Linux
Kali Linux is an ideal tool kit for you if you are a beginner or professional penetration tester. It consists of numerous features that you must know before proceeding further. These features are:
ARMEL and ARMHF Supports
The single-board system based on ARM such as Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone Black, and a few others are becoming increasingly prominent and modest. It is acceptable that Kali’s ARM support should be just about as strong as could be expected.
Kali Linux upholds a broad scope of ARM gadgets and has ARM stores incorporated with the mainline form, permitting ARM devices to be up-to-date close to the distribution.
Multi-Language Support
Even though the penetration tool is available in English, to allow more clients to work in their local language and find the necessary devices, the Kali is ensured with genuine multilingual support.
Full Customization of Kali ISOs
It is, in every case, simple to create an altered version of Kali for our particular necessities utilizing metapackages modified to a security expert’s particular need sets and an exceptionally open ISO customization process. Kali Linux is vigorously incorporated with live-build, providing us with a ton of adaptability in customizing and altering the Kali Linux ISO images.
Live USB Boot
With this feature, the user can install Kali on a USB device and boot it without contacting the host operating system. It is ideal for forensics work. You can pick which file system Kali will utilize when it fires up, permitting files to be saved across various sessions and profiles to be made, only with the optional persistence volume(s). Each persistent volume can be encoded, which is the usefulness that the industry demands.
More than 600 Penetration Testing Tools Pre-introduced
Kali Linux contains over 600 valuable tools, for example, Crunch, Aircrack-ng, Wireshark, and Nmap. After analyzing each tool highlighted in BackTrack, Kali dropped out many tools that either didn’t work or duplicated different tools that offered the same feature.
Created in Secured Environment
The Kali Linux group comprises a little development team that is permitted to submit packages and communicate with repositories, which is all done through a few secure conventions.
Wide-Ranging Wireless Device Support
The Linux distribution’s standard sticking point has been upheld for wireless interfaces. Kali Linux is intended to work with, however, many wireless gadgets as expected under the circumstances, empowering it to run on a broad scope of devices. It also makes it accessible with different wireless devices and a USB.
Forensics Mode
Normally, while performing forensic work on a system framework, the change in data on the analyzed system in any way is always avoided. Whereas, in modern desktop systems, they automatically obstruct the aim by endeavoring to auto-mount any disk they detect.
Kali Linux offers a forensics mode that might be empowered from the boot menu to forestall this behavior. It likewise stops every such feature from changing any data. This live system is mostly useful for forensics scene investigation, as any computer could be rebooted into a Kali Linux OS without getting access to the hard drive.
What is the Default Password for Kali Linux?
While installing Kali Linux, it enables the users to set a password for the root users if they decide to boot instead with a live image. The i386 amd64, VMware, and Arm images are automatically set up with the default or root password “toor”, without the quotes.
Keep in mind that the default password of Kali Linux 2020.x for kali users is “kali”, without the quotes.
List of default Kali Linux passwords
| Default Username | Default Password |
| Kali | Kali |
| Root | toor |
Finding Default Password in Kali Linux
If you are looking to find root passwords in Kali Linux, it is pretty straightforward. You just have to follow the given steps below:
Step 1: Go to the command line (Terminal), click Right on the desktop. Further, click on the open terminal. Or you can also click on:
Menu > Applications > Utilities > terminal
Step 2: Here, you can find your password and can also change it. At the prompt, click Enter; Sudo password root
How to Change the Default Password of Kali Linux?
Changing the default root password in Kali Linux is as simple as changing any other password.
In the terminal, just follow the given steps;
Sudo passwd root
After you get prompted, enter the password for “kali” user and then type and give confirmation for the new password for the root user;
[sudo] password for kali: kali
New password: M1R0@tPassw0rd
Retype password: M1R0@tPassw0rd
Passwd: password updated successfully
And that’s the complete step to change your Kali Linux default password. The password change will immediately take effect.
Change the Kali Linux password for username “kali”;
Now you have changed the default root password for Kali Linux. However, still, the password of username “kali” is pending.
Just follow the below steps;
Open the terminal and type the following command:
Sudo passwd kali
Then you have to enter your current password for the “kali” username, that is “kali”. Type the default password and click on Confirm. After that, choose the new password you want to set and enter it in the “new password” and “Retype password” sections.
[sudo] password for kali: kali
New password: J@hn12#$
Retype password: J@hn12#$
Passwd: Password change successfully
It is advisable to always choose a strong combination of passwords for both root and kali username in Kali Linux.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the above-given information must have made you aware of Kali Linux and its features. Further, the given steps to change the password for default “root” and “kali” users are quite simple to follow. Thus, you can change the Kali Linux default password as many times as you wish to.
It is an easy process and often ignored by new users. Changing a new password would only take hardly the same time an attacker breaks your system’s security. So, it is recommended to always change your Kali Linux password and set a strong combination of passwords.
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