Nov 22, 2022
Linux 🐧 Linux 🐧 Linux 🐧 Linux 🐧 Linux 🐧
Linux is an open-source operating system (OS). An operating system is a software that directly manages a system’s hardware and resources, like CPU, memory, and storage. The OS sits between applications and hardware and connects all of your software and the physical resources that do the work.
Why use Linux?
If you haven’t heard about Linux before, it is because not many people use it, but most companies, government infrastructure, androids, most of the websites you visit, and a lot of the hospitals, all of them run on Linux. You may ask why. The answer is quite simple. Linux, as compared to all the other operating systems, is the most secure one. There are not a lot of vulnerabilities in Linux for oneself to exploit, as compared to Windows and macOS.The main reason behind this is that it is open source and is updated almost every day by developers all over the world, unlike Windows and macOS, whose source code is locked and its updates come every other month because only people working in Microsoft have access to it. So, only they can update it, thus making it less secure than Linux. Being an open source and one of the most secure operating systems around the world, Linux is even used on the International Space station.
Different varieties of Linux
Like other any other operating system, there are various variants of Linux. Their various variants are often known as different flavors. Some of them are quite handy in day-to-day life as replacements for Windows and macOS, while other flavors now have a lot of pre-installed tools for serious business (hacking), i.e., pen-testing. But, again, a great tool is worth nothing to a person if he/she doesn’t know how to use them to one’s advantage.
Before moving on to the interesting part, it is only fair that I talk about some of the Linux, which can be used to overcome the boredom of Windows and macOS or maybe your current Linux flavor if you are using one. You are free to try any of them:
- Zorin OS: It is a multi-functional operating system designed specifically for Linux beginners and also one of the perfect alternative Linux distributions for Windows and Mac OS. Since Zorin had a generalized Windows look, users who are looking for the best Linux replacement for Windows will feel right at home.
2. Chalet OS: It is one of the most suitable Linux distros alternatives for Windows users by its looks. In short, Chalet OS is for those who miss Windows 7, because it has that familiar Start Menu.
3. Robolinux: It is a great distro for those who want to try Linux without taking any risk at all with their current OS. It includes Stealth VM, a virtual machine that they claim can run any Windows program without any lag. In addition, Robolinux has a tool that allows you to clone your entire Windows C drive. This means that you can migrate all of your pre-existing programs and data.
4. Ubuntu: It is a Linux distribution based on Debian and composed mostly of free and open-source software. Ubuntu is officially released in three editions: Desktop, Server, and Core for Internet of things devices and robots. All the editions can run on the computer alone or on a virtual machine.
5. Fedora: Fedora Linux is a Linux distribution developed by the Fedora Project. Fedora contains software distributed under various free and open-source licenses and aims to be on the leading edge of open-source technologies. Fedora is the upstream source of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
When we talk about pen-testing (hacking) in general, it can be done from any OS. You don’t need to use Linux. All you need are certain tools that can be downloaded and installed separately from their official sources. But, you don’t need to do that, cause if you do install tools separately, they will require other programs, and then you will need to install them too, and eventually, your OS will become a mess. So, to avoid this type of situation, we can install a wholly new and separate OS, which already comes up with all the tools and requirements are pre-installed, so you don’t have to go
through them.
Here are some common operating systems, that are suitable for pen-testing purposes and already come up with a majority of tools pre-installed.
- Kali Linux: Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is maintained and funded by Offensive Security.
2. Parrot OS: Parrot OS is a platform for hacking. It has an easy-to-use editor for software development. This platform enables you to surf the web privately and securely. Hackers can use Parrot OS to perform vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, computer forensics, and more.
3. BlackBox: BackBox is an Ubuntu-based open-source Operating System that offers a penetration test and security assessment facility. This system also provides a network analysis toolkit for security in the IT environment.
It contains a toolkit that is needed for ethical hacking.
4. BlackArch: BlackArch is a free Linux-based platform that contains a wide range of tools for automation, mobile, networking, etc. It is an open-source Operating The system is specially created for security researchers and penetration testers. You can install it individually or in a group.
Now that we have discussed different flavors of Linux, in my upcoming articles, we will start talking about various tools and programs, that can be used to our advantage, to exploit our target weakness.
Be Safe, be secure and happy learning 😊
