Setting up the Kali Linux VM
Virtual Machines (VMs)
A VM is a computer inside your computer — lets you safely run other operating systems for hacking labs.
Key Benefits
Run multiple VMs simultaneously (e.g., Kali + vulnerable machines from VulnHub)
Isolated environment — safe for practicing exploits
Easily reset with snapshots
Free VM Software Options
Oracle VirtualBox
Free & open source
Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
VMware Workstation Player
Free for personal use
Only on Windows & Linux
VMware Fusion / Pro
Paid versions with advanced features
Fusion for macOS
Workstation Pro for Windows/Linux
Download Kali Linux
Kali is the de facto OS for penetration testing.
Download official image: 🔗 https://www.kali.org/downloads/
Choose the correct version (64-bit)
Pick the VirtualBox or VMware custom image
Kali Linux VM Requirements
May need to enable virtualization in BIOS/UEFI (Intel VT-x / AMD-V)
Minimum:
2GB RAM
80GB Disk Space
Kali Linux VM Best Practices
Snapshots
Take frequent snapshots before big changes
Revert if you break the system or a tool
Keep Kali Updated
Run these in the terminal:
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -yRoot vs Non-root
Kali now uses non-root user by default (for safety)
You can still switch to root if needed (
sudo -i)
Install Guest Additions (for better performance)
Enables features like shared clipboard, drag & drop, screen resizing
Set Terminal Scroll to Infinite
In Terminal preferences, set scrollback to unlimited
Helps you read long tool outputs (like nmap, hydra, etc.)
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