No, really...this isn't clickbait. For the past few weeks, we've been working with the Microsoft WSL team to get Kali Linux introduced into the Microsoft App Store as an official WSL distribution and today we're happy to announce the availability of the "Kali Linux" Windows application. For Windows 10 users, this means you can simply enable WSL, search for Kali in the Windows store, and install it with a single click. This is especially exciting news for penetration testers and security professionals who have limited toolsets due to enterprise compliance standards.
Kali on the Windows Subsystem for Linux
We're always on the prowl for novel environments to run Kali on, and with the introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in Windows 10, new and exciting possibilities have surfaced. After all, if the WSL can support Ubuntu, it shouldn't be too hard to incorporate another Debian-like distribution, right? This is especially true with the Windows Subsystem for Linux Distribution Switcher utility.
Kali Linux 2017.1 Release
Finally, it's here! We're happy to announce the availability of the Kali Linux 2017.1 rolling release, which brings with it a bunch of exciting updates and features. As with all new releases, you have the common denominator of updated packages, an updated kernel that provides more and better hardware support, as well as a slew of updated tools - but this release has a few more surprises up its sleeve.
Kali Linux Repository HTTPS Support
A couple of weeks back we added more HTTPS support to our Kali infrastructure, and wanted to give our users some guidance and point out what's new. While our Kali Linux download page (and shasums) has always been served via HTTPS, our mirror redirector has not. Now that we generate weekly images, secure access to the mirror redirector has become crucial.
The Kali Linux Certified Professional
After almost two years in the making, it is with great pride that we announce today our new Kali Linux Professional certification - the first and only official certification program that validates one's proficiency with the Kali Linux distribution. If you're new to the information security field, or are looking to take your first steps towards a new career in InfoSec, the KLCP is a "must have" foundational certification. Built on the philosophy that "you've got to walk before you can run,” the KLCP will give you direct experience with your working environment and a solid foundation toward a future with any professional InfoSec work. As we continually see, those entering the Offensive Security PWK program with previous working experience with Kali, and a general familiarity with Linux, tend to do better in the real world OSCP exam.
Kali Linux in the AWS cloud, again
We're happy to announce that we've once again listed our Kali Linux images on the Amazon AWS marketplace. You can now spin up an updated Kali machine easily through your EC2 panel. Our current image is a "full" image, which contains all the standard tools available in a full Kali release. Once your instance is running, connect to it with your SSH private key using the "ec2-user" account. Don't forget to update your Kali instance to get the latest packages and bug fixes. Type as root (or sudo): apt update && apt dist-upgrade. We are “selling” these images on the marketplace for free, so other than the regular Amazon charges, there are no extras to pay. The Kali team would like to take this opportunity to thank r0kh for his efforts of getting Kali back on track (no pun intended) and working flawlessly in AWS. If you plan to use these Kali images for penetration testing in an AWS environment, make sure you check out the Amazon penetration testing request form.