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Kali Linux description
Kali Linux is a specialized operating system used for testing the security of computer systems and networks. It comes with a large collection of tools for ethical hacking, vulnerability assessments, and security audits. While offering a powerful suite of tools, Kali Linux is intended for security professionals and should only be used for legal and ethical activities.
Who is Kali Linux best for
Kali Linux is a specialized OS for cybersecurity professionals conducting penetration testing, ethical hacking, and security research. While powerful, its complexity may not be suitable for beginners. Users praise its extensive toolset and regular updates, but note the steep learning curve and occasional performance issues.
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Best for small to enterprise-level software, IT, and telecommunications companies.
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Ideal for the software, IT, and telecommunications industry.
Kali Linux features
Supported Kali includes hundreds of tools for exploiting system vulnerabilities. |
Supported Kali Linux is regularly updated with security patches and new features. |
Supported Kali Linux includes various tools for network analysis and vulnerability identification. |
Supported Kali includes Snort and Suricata for intrusion detection and network traffic analysis. |
Supported Kali Linux offers various tools for reverse engineering software and hardware. |
Supported Kali Linux offers various built-in tools for digital forensics and incident response. |
Supported Kali Linux offers various tools for analyzing wireless networks, including cracking WEP/WPA keys. |
We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software
Customer Service
Ease of Use
Reliability and Performance
Ease of Implementation
Kali Linux reviews
We've summarised 152 Kali Linux reviews (Kali Linux G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.
- Extensive collection of pre-installed security tools for various purposes (penetration testing, forensics, etc.).
- Open-source and free, allowing customization and community contributions.
- Regular updates and security patches.
- Active and helpful community support and resources.
- Versatile deployment options (live CD/USB, hard drive, virtual machine, containers).
- Powerful command-line interface for efficient operation.
- Multilingual support.
- Flexible and customizable to fit specific security needs.
- Lightweight and fast, suitable for older or low-spec machines.
- Strong security focus and regular updates.
- Good for learning and practicing ethical hacking and cybersecurity skills.
- Comprehensive documentation and online resources (though sometimes fragmented).
- Saves time and effort by providing a pre-configured environment for security tasks.
- Stable and reliable platform based on Debian.
- Contributes to a more secure digital environment by enabling vulnerability assessments and security audits.
- Difficult to learn for beginners, with a steep learning curve.
- Can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of tools and features.
- Installation process can be challenging and confusing for some.
- Occasional performance issues, slowdowns, and resource intensiveness.
- Limited hardware support and driver problems, especially with certain devices and virtual machines.
- Not suitable for everyday use or general computing tasks.
- Some tools can be buggy or lack proper documentation.
- Updating the OS and packages can be problematic and sometimes requires a clean install.
- Default desktop environment (XFCE) not preferred by all users.
- Some third-party tools and libraries require manual installation and configuration due to dependency issues.
- Occasional crashes and instability, especially after updates.
- GUI/UI could be more user-friendly and intuitive for beginners.
- Lack of integration with certain cloud platforms and services.
- Limited formal customer support options.
- Potential for misuse and ethical concerns if not handled responsibly.
Kali Linux pricing
The commentary is based on 16 reviews from Kali Linux G2 reviews.
Kali Linux is a free and open-source penetration testing platform. Reviewers consistently praise its comprehensive suite of security tools and free availability. While some find it resource-intensive or unsuitable for beginners, the overall sentiment highlights its cost-effectiveness and value for security professionals.
Users sentiment
See the Kali Linux pricing page.
Kali Linux alternatives
Kali Linux FAQ
Kali Linux is a specialized Linux distribution designed for penetration testing and digital forensics. It provides a comprehensive suite of security tools for ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment, and security auditing. Though powerful, Kali is intended for trained professionals and requires responsible use.
What is Kali Linux and what does Kali Linux do?
Kali Linux is a specialized Linux distribution designed for penetration testing and digital forensics. It provides a comprehensive suite of security tools for ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment, and security auditing. Though powerful, Kali is intended for trained professionals and requires responsible use.
Kali Linux integrates with a vast collection of security tools pre-installed for penetration testing, forensics, and more. Its open-source nature allows for customization and community contributions, enhancing its integration capabilities. It also supports various deployment options, increasing flexibility for different environments.
How does Kali Linux integrate with other tools?
Kali Linux integrates with a vast collection of security tools pre-installed for penetration testing, forensics, and more. Its open-source nature allows for customization and community contributions, enhancing its integration capabilities. It also supports various deployment options, increasing flexibility for different environments.
Top Kali Linux alternatives include BlackArch, Parrot OS, and BackBox Linux. These distributions offer similar penetration testing tools and functionalities for security professionals. Other options, like Debian or Ubuntu, can be customized for security tasks but require more manual configuration.
What the main competitors of Kali Linux?
Top Kali Linux alternatives include BlackArch, Parrot OS, and BackBox Linux. These distributions offer similar penetration testing tools and functionalities for security professionals. Other options, like Debian or Ubuntu, can be customized for security tasks but require more manual configuration.
Kali Linux is a legitimate and safe operating system designed for penetration testing and security auditing. However, its powerful tools can be misused. It's crucial to use Kali Linux ethically and legally, as unauthorized use can have serious consequences.
Is Kali Linux legit?
Kali Linux is a legitimate and safe operating system designed for penetration testing and security auditing. However, its powerful tools can be misused. It's crucial to use Kali Linux ethically and legally, as unauthorized use can have serious consequences.
Kali Linux is a free and open-source penetration testing platform. There is no cost to download or use the software, making it a worthwhile option for security professionals.
How much does Kali Linux cost?
Kali Linux is a free and open-source penetration testing platform. There is no cost to download or use the software, making it a worthwhile option for security professionals.
Kali Linux users report limited formal customer support. The active community and detailed documentation are helpful resources for troubleshooting and learning. However, beginners may find the lack of direct support challenging.
Is Kali Linux customer service good?
Kali Linux users report limited formal customer support. The active community and detailed documentation are helpful resources for troubleshooting and learning. However, beginners may find the lack of direct support challenging.
Reviewed by
Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.
Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.