20 things to do after installing Kali Linux 1.x

This is Our Top List of 20 things to do after installing Kali Linux.Perhaps Your requirement’s might be completely different. If you have a suggestion, let us know via comments section.

STANDARD PACKAGES

Kali Specific

Kali Linux is a special build from Debian. Kali Linux inherits a lot of the issues from Debian Linux.

Useful utilities and Software’s

A collection of utilities and software’s we found useful. These are day to day software’s that are available in most other Linux distributions or at least we think they should be made available as part of a default installation.

Enhancements and accessibility

Kali Linux is made to boot up fast and low of resources. But if you have some more CPU and GPU power to spare, you might want to try to make it look more colorful.

Kali Specific

1. Fix Device not managed error – wired network

If you want NetworkManager to handle interfaces that are enabled in /etc/network/interfaces: Set managed=true in/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf. So this file looks like:

[main]
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile

[ifupdown]
managed=true

How to fix Wired Network interface is Unmanaged error in Debian or Kali Linux - 1 - blackMORE Ops

Read the full article on fixing Wired Network interface “Device not managed” error in Debian or Kali Linux.

2. Fix default repository

The simplest way is to edit the /etc/apt/sources.list remove or comment every-line with # at the front and add the following lines..

 leafpad /etc/apt/sources.list

Kali Linux 2.0 – Kali Sana users – Use the following Repo list:

# Regular repositories
deb http://http.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib
deb http://security.kali.org/kali-security sana/updates main contrib non-free
# Source repositories
deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib
deb-src http://security.kali.org/kali-security sana/updates main contrib non-free

Kali Linux 1.x users – you can keep using the repo below:

## Regular repositories
deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali main non-free contrib
deb http://security.kali.org/kali-security kali/updates main contrib non-free
## Source repositories
deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali kali main non-free contrib
deb-src http://security.kali.org/kali-security kali/updates main contrib non-free

Save and close the file.

Kali Linux 1.x details can be found in adding official Kali Linux 1.x Repositories page.

Kali Linux 2.x – Kali Sana details and explanations can be found in adding official Kali Linux 2.0 – Kali Sana Repositories page.

3. To Update, Upgrade and Dist-Upgrade

Initially we need to update the System to do so we have to type the following command in Command Line

 apt-get clean && apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y && apt-get dist-upgrade -y

4. Fix PulseAudio warning

Details can be found in Fixing PulseAudio configured for per-user sessions … (warning) in Kali Linux page.

5. Enable sound on Boot

Fix sound mute in Kali Linux on boot - 2 - blackMORE Ops

Follow the steps below to fix sound mute in Kali Linux on boot

apt-get install alsa-utils -y

In GNOME Desktop (The default Kali Desktop)

Right Click on the small volume ICON and select Sound Preferences

Alternatively, you can also go to Applications > System Tools > Preferences > System Settings > Sound to bring up the same options.

Use the Output volume slider to ON, shown similar the screenshot above. That’s it you’re done. Close Sound window.

Details and explanations can be found in fixing sound mute in Kali Linux on boot page.

Useful utilities and Software’s

6. Install Java

Go to the following link and download jdk7. At the time of writing this guide the jdk version was jdk-7u45-linux-x64. You can use different version.

Following is what we’ve used. JDK-7u45-Linux-x64 .So Download and save the file in /root directory.

tar -xzvf /root/jdk-7u45-linux-x64.tar.gz
mv jdk1.7.0_45 /opt
cd /opt/jdk1.7.0_45

This step registers the downloaded version of Java as an alternative, and switches it to be used as the default:

update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /opt/jdk1.7.0_45/bin/java 1
update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac /opt/jdk1.7.0_45/bin/javac 1
update-alternatives --install /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin.so mozilla-javaplugin.so /opt/jdk1.7.0_45/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so 1
update-alternatives --set java /opt/jdk1.7.0_45/bin/java
update-alternatives --set javac /opt/jdk1.7.0_45/bin/javac
update-alternatives --set mozilla-javaplugin.so /opt/jdk1.7.0_45/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so

Follow installing Java JDK in Kali Linux post for step by step instructions and testing options.

7. Install Flash

You have to two choice to install Flash either using Command line or Manually.

Choice 1: Install Flash from Repository:

apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree

and then type in:

update-flashplugin-nonfree --install

That’s it. You flash should be working as expected. Go to testing section at the bottom on this post to confirm installation.

Choice 2: Install Flash Manually

Step 2.a: Download the latest Flash Player archive

Download link = http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/(Note: Choose Version to download tar.gz for other Linux)

Step 2.b: Untar archive and install

Follow the instructions below:

cd Downloads/
tar xzvf install_flash_player_11_linux.x86_64.tar.gz

cp libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/

8. Install File Roller – Archive Manager

Kali Linux lacks a proper GUI archive manager. Install it Archive Manager (File Roller) using the following command:

apt-get install unrar unace rar unrar p7zip zip unzip p7zip-full p7zip-rar file-roller -y

You can now find Archive Manager in Applications > Accessories > Archive Manager.

9. Add a standard user

By Default Kali Linux got only root user While most applications require root access, it is always better to add a second user. Open terminal and type following to create new user (replace user1 with your desired user name)

useradd -m user1

(Note: -m means create home directory which is usually /home/username)

How to add remove user - Standard usernon-root - in Kali Linux - blackMORE Ops -2

Now set password for this user

passwd user1

Enter desired password twice Add user to sudo group (to allow user to install software, allow printing, use privileged mode etc.)

usermod -a -G sudo user1

(Note: -a means append or add and –G mean to specified group/groups) Change default shell of previously created user to bash

chsh -s /bin/bash user1

To learn more, follow the excellent and detailed post on adding remove user (standard user/non-root) in Kali Linux.

10. Add add-apt-repository

Debian allows users to add and use PPA repositories by an application named add-apt-repository however, Kali Linux didn’t include this in their default package list. With Kali, because this is a special purpose application and certain modifications were made to make it work for what it does best (Penetration Test). To enable PPA Repository via add-apt-repository application, follow the steps below: First install Python Software properties package.

apt-get install python-software-properties

Next install apt-file

apt-get install apt-file

Update apt-file.

apt-file update

This takes a while, so in case your apt-file update is SLOW, you might want to try and fix that as well. (Note that we got repo.kali.org in my/etc/apt/sources.list file instead of http.kali.org.) Once apt-file update is complete, you should be able to search for it.

apt-file search add-apt-repository

Your output should look similar to this:

python-software-properties: /usr/bin/add-apt-repository
python-software-properties: /usr/share/man/man1/add-apt-repository.1.gz

The default add-apt-repository application located in (/usr/bin/add-apt-repository) works for Debian. So if you’re using Kali, chances are it won’t work. There’s a nice fix for that which I will add at the bottom of this post, (try them on VirtualBox if you feel like). But I found we can just mimic Ubuntu Oneiric to make add-apt-repository work.

cd /usr/sbin
vi add-apt-repository

Add the following code and save the file.

#!/bin/bash
if [ $# -eq 1 ]
NM=`uname -a && date`
NAME=`echo $NM | md5sum | cut -f1 -d" "`
then
  ppa_name=`echo "$1" | cut -d":" -f2 -s`
  if [ -z "$ppa_name" ]
  then
    echo "PPA name not found"
    echo "Utility to add PPA repositories in your debian machine"
    echo "$0 ppa:user/ppa-name"
  else
    echo "$ppa_name"
    echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/$ppa_name/ubuntu oneiric main " >> /etc/apt/sources.list
    apt-get update >> /dev/null 2> /tmp/${NAME}_apt_add_key.txt
    key=`cat /tmp/${NAME}_apt_add_key.txt | cut -d":" -f6 | cut -d" " -f3`
    apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys $key
    rm -rf /tmp/${NAME}_apt_add_key.txt
  fi
else
  echo "Utility to add PPA repositories in your debian machine"
  echo "$0 ppa:user/ppa-name"
fi

Note: In this line echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/$ppa_name/ubuntu oneiric main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list I’ve usedOneiric. You can try to use Lucid, Raring or Saucy as per your choice. Now chmod and chown the file.

chmod o+x /usr/sbin/add-apt-repository 
chown root:root /usr/sbin/add-apt-repository

Now that we added the correct code, we can use add-apt-repository to add a PPA repository. I tried the following to add themes and custom icons in Kali Linux.

/usr/sbin/add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/themes
/usr/sbin/add-apt-repository ppa:alecive/antigone

Kali Linux add PPA repository add-apt-repository - adding PPA Repository using add-apt-repository - 7 - blackMORE Ops

If you want see read and understand how it all works,We suggest reading the details post on adding PPA repository add-apt-repository in Kali Linux.

11. Install Tor

What is TOR?

Tor is free software and an open network that helps you defend against traffic analysis, a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security. The Tor network is a group of volunteer-operated servers that allows people to improve their privacy and security on the Internet. Tor's users employ this network by connecting through a series of virtual tunnels rather than making a direct connection, thus allowing both organizations and individuals to share information over public networks without compromising their privacy. Along the same line, Tor is an effective censorship circumvention tool, allowing its users to reach otherwise blocked destinations or content. Tor can also be used as a building block for software developers to create new communication tools with built-in privacy features.

Why anonymity matters?

Refers from https://www.torproject.org/ TOR protects you by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers all around the world: it prevents somebody watching your Internet connection from learning what sites you visit, and it prevents the sites you visit from learning your physical location.

[Source: https://www.torproject.org/]

1. Installing TOR in Kali Linux

To install TOR using Kali Linux repository, you can follow this command :

root@hack:~# apt-get install tor

Enable tor service from command line:

service tor start

Browse with confident by using proxychains and tor

2. Download and Running TOR Bundle

Second Step download the TOR Bundle. Link available below this post. Download which one compatible with your Linux Distro. Save it anywhere you want, then extract it.

root@hack:~# tar -xvzf tor-browser-gnu-linux-i686-2.3.25-15-dev-LANG.tar.gz

After done extracting, open the directory, change permission and then run TOR. Open your terminal, type and run by follow the command below :

root@hack:~/tor-browser_en-US# chmod +x start-tor-browser.desktop
root@hack:~/tor-browser_en-US# ./start-tor-browser.desktop

Now you can run TOR Browser in your Kali Linux. Enjoy :-)

Error Fixing

1. The TOR Browser Bundle should not be run as root

Almost problem when running TOR Browser for first time is message “The Tor Browser Bundle should not be run as root”. To fix this problem you only need change a little code. Open start-tor-browser file using your favorite text editor. Find this code :

if [ "`id -u`" -eq 0 ]; then
complain "The Tor Browser Bundle should not be run as root.  Exiting."
exit 1
fi

Then remove that code or add # in first of all the line of code above. So it will be like this :

#if [ "`id -u`" -eq 0 ]; then
#complain "The Tor Browser Bundle should not be run as root.  Exiting."
#exit 1
#fi

Reopen Tor and banzai.... TOR will open and running in your Kali Linux.

2. TOR Browser Unexpectedly Exited

Second problem which almost happen in Kali Linux is "Tor unexpectedly exited. This might be due to a bug in Tor itself, another program on your system, or faulty hardware. Untill you start Tor, the Tor Browser will not able to reach any website". To fix this, you must change ownership. Open your terminal, type and run this command :

root@hack:~# chown -hR root tor-browser_en-US/

Now, reopen. Enjoy the Tor Browser :-)

proxychains iceweasel

To keep things simple in this post, I’ve only shows one part of using Tor. You might want to read the full details in Installing Tor In Kali Linuxpost. Another option is to setup VPN.

12. Install Filezilla FTP Client

To install Filezilla,use the following command:

apt-get install filezilla filezilla-common -y

13. Install HTOP and NetHogs

apt-get install htop nethogs -y

You can now run then using the following commands:

htop
nethogs eth0
nethogs wlan0

14. Install proprietary drivers for your Graphics card

Depending on which graphics card you’re using, (AMD or NVIDIA), you might want to install proprietary drivers to unlock more features. There’s some excellent post we’ve made on Install AMD ATI proprietary driver (fglrx) in Kali Linux.

NVIDIA users can just stick to the official documentation for installing NVIDIA Drivers. In case, official documentation is not working or you’ve hit rock bottom, you can try following this other post I’ve written to install NVIDIA binary drivers manually.

15. Install Recordmydesktop and Reminna Remote Desktop Client

Recordmydesktop gives you the ability to record and make a video of your activities in Kali Linux. Remmina is simialar to Windows Remote Desktop Client. Both very useful. Install them using the following command:

apt-get install gtk-recordmydesktop recordmydesktop remmina -y

16. Install GDebi Package Manager

dpkg is a powerful tool, but it doesn’t install dependencies automatically. What we need is some package installer that can go out and fetch all required dependencies while installing a .deb package. The best one out there is gdebi. Install it using the following command:

apt-get install gdebi -y

Enhancements and accessibility

17. Install a theme

Installing theme and revving up your desktop is a great idea. Kali default desktop is dull and boring. There’s two different ways you can change theme.

Manually install theme
Install theme via PPA repository

Read details here to and find out how to change or install GTK3 themes in Kali Linux.

18. Install a new desktop environment

I prefer XFCE Desktop, but you can try to install/remove different Desktop Environments or Window Manager in Kali Linux Depending on which one you need choose links below:

Finally, follow follow these instructions to permanently switch Desktop Environments.(i.e. boot into XFCE instead of GNOME).

19. Enable Autologin user

It’s a simple change. Just open and edit the file called /etc/gdm3/daemon.conf, assuming you’re using GNOME Display Manager(gmd3) a your main Display Manager. You might want to try out other desktops as well. Here’s a link to Add/Remove different desktop Managers in Kali Linux.

root@kali:~# leafpad /etc/gdm3/daemon.conf

In the daemon section un-comment the 2 lines for automatic login. It should finally look like this

[daemon]
# Enabling automatic login
  AutomaticLoginEnable = true
  AutomaticLogin = root

That’s it. Too easy. In case you’re wondering how to use a different user than root, here’s how

[daemon]
# Enabling automatic login
  AutomaticLoginEnable = true
  AutomaticLogin = myanotheruser

Auto login root user at system start in Kali Linux - GNOME and KDE - blackMORE Ops

Last but not the least, reboot to check if it worked. (which it will, cause it’s Linux and Kali is awesome)

reboot

You might want to follow up on this one or if you’re KDE user, then here’s the instructions to Auto login root user at system start in Kali Linux – GNOME and KDE. This article also shows how to auto-login a different non-root user… quite handy.

More Advanced stuffs:

This part explains how to get more out of your system, specially Graphics card.

20. Unlock GPU processing

Last but not the least, GPU processing is a lot faster when you’re trying to break a password. Depending on your Graphics card, you choose options as outlined below:

a. AMD

Install AMD ATI Driver (fglrx) in Kali Linux

Then follow rest of the guides here

Install AMD APP SDK in Kali Linux?

b. NVIDIA

I found that official documentation for installing NVIDIA Drivers doesn’t work for Kali Linux due to a UVM error. Following two posts will take you through installing NVIDIA official driver and CUDA+Pyrit (updated 26/08/2014)

What can I do with Kali Linux?

You can do a lot. Here’s some starting guides for those who are interested:(updated 26/11/2014)

Cracking Wifi WPA/WPA2 passwords

Cracking password hashes

Cracking MD5, phpBB, MySQL and SHA1 passwords with Hashcat

DOS/DDOS attacks

Metasploit related

Hack Remote PC with Metasploit

SQLMap and Google Dorks

These will surely keep you busy for few days. I suggest looking around in Kali forums and generally Google for more interesting stuffs.

Conclusion

Hope you’ve found these useful. You might not have to use all of these, but some are definitely recommended. Thanks for reading. Please share.

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