Kali Linux and Parrot OS

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Kali Linux and Parrot OS are two of the most popular Linux distributions designed specifically for cybersecurity and penetration testing. They have many similarities in functionality, but differ in their security approaches, interface, resource usage, and built-in tools. In this article, we will take a closer look at both distributions to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

A bit of history​

Kali Linux was first released in 2013, becoming the successor to another popular distribution, BackTrack, which was created for penetration testing and security analysis. Offensive Security, the developers of Kali, took the best ideas from BackTrack, improved them, added more tools and functionality, and released the distribution under a new name. Kali has become a benchmark for penetration testing, and training on it has been included in many professional courses.

Parrot OS was developed in 2013 by Parrot Security and entered the market in 2015 as an alternative to Kali. Its creators focused on security, privacy, and stability. Parrot OS includes support for Tor and other tools for anonymity, so the distribution is popular among professionals who need constant privacy and anonymity in their work.

Kali Linux: What is it?​

Kali Linux is a Debian-based distribution developed by Offensive Security. Kali is widely known as one of the most powerful and reliable penetration testing tools and is a standard in the cybersecurity industry.

Main Features of Kali Linux​

1. Huge set of cybersecurity tools: Kali comes with over 600 pre-installed tools such as Nmap, Metasploit, Burp Suite, Wireshark and many more, making it suitable for any type of security analysis.
2. Community and Support: Kali is actively supported by the Offensive Security team and has a large community that regularly updates and improves the tools.
3. Modes and Configurations: Kali offers various modes including Live USB, hard drive installation, virtual images, and even a mobile version.
4. Security and Privacy: Kali Linux is designed for use in security-sensitive environments, but its privacy may require additional tweaks.

Main advantages of Kali Linux​

• Industry Standard: Kali is used in both commercial and educational settings. Many courses and certification programs, such as CEH and OSCP, are built on Kali.
• Integration with Metasploit and other popular frameworks: Kali works well with Metasploit, making it ideal for penetration testing.
• Wide hardware support: Kali can be installed on most modern devices, including Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers.

Parrot OS: What is it?​

Parrot OS, also built on Debian, is developed by the Parrot Security team and is a comprehensive security testing and privacy protection solution. Parrot offers a lighter alternative to Kali with an emphasis on privacy and anonymity.

Main features of Parrot OS​

1. Support for anonymity and privacy tools: Parrot includes built-in support for Tor and I2P, making it a great choice for secure surfing and data protection.
2. Less resource consumption: Parrot consumes less RAM and computing resources compared to Kali, making it suitable for low-end computers.
3. Multiple versions available: Parrot offers a Home (for everyday use) and a Security (for penetration testing and analysis) version.
4. Ease of use: Parrot OS has an intuitive interface, which can be convenient for those new to cybersecurity.

Main advantages of Parrot OS​

• Focus on anonymity and privacy: Parrot is already configured to use Tor and other privacy-protecting tools, making it a good choice for users who want to remain anonymous.
• Versatility: In addition to penetration testing tools, Parrot includes development applications such as IDEs and text editors.
• Performance: Parrot puts less load on the system, allowing it to work on older and less powerful devices.

Kali Linux vs Parrot OS Comparison​

Characteristic	Kali Linux	Parrot OS
Target audience	Cybersecurity Professionals and Penetration Testers	A wide range of users, including security professionals and privacy advocates
Pre-installed tools	Over 600 tools including Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark	Over 500 tools including Tor and I2P for anonymity
Performance	Requires more resources	Lightweight, optimized for older hardware
Support for anonymity	Limited, requires customization	Built-in support for Tor and I2P
Interface	Tuned for professional tasks, minimalistic	More friendly and intuitive for new users
Updates	Frequent updates and active support of Offensive Security	Frequent updates with a focus on stability and privacy

How to choose the right distribution?​

When choosing between Kali and Parrot, it is important to consider the tasks that need to be accomplished:

• If you are a penetration tester and need a full set of tools and direct access to various security frameworks, then Kali Linux is the best choice.
• If you're a budding security researcher or looking for a more lightweight and private solution, Parrot OS may be a better fit. Its built-in anonymity support and low resource requirements make it convenient for everyday use.
• For privacy and anonymity-related tasks such as OSINT or Dark Web work, Parrot OS will be a better choice thanks to its built-in support for privacy tools.

Interesting Facts About Kali Linux and Parrot OS​

1. Education and Certification: Kali Linux is widely used in educational programs. Offensive Security, the company that developed Kali, offers the OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) certification, which is one of the most respected in the penetration testing field.
2. Mobile Version: Kali Linux can be used on Android mobile devices such as ARM platform devices and supports platforms including Raspberry Pi, making it convenient for portable testing.
3. Privacy in Parrot OS: Unlike Kali, Parrot OS is preconfigured to work with Tor and includes I2P, another anonymous data transfer network. This makes Parrot a great choice for situations where complete anonymity is required.
4. Resource-saving: Parrot OS is designed to be a lightweight operating system optimized for low-end computers. Kali, on the other hand, can be resource-intensive, especially when running on less powerful hardware.

Kali Linux and Parrot OS Built-in Tools Overview​

Both systems come with powerful cybersecurity toolkits. Let's look at some of them and what they do:

Popular Tools in Kali Linux​

1. Nmap: One of the most famous network security scanners, used for network exploration and security auditing.
2. Metasploit Framework: A powerful framework for developing, testing, and exploiting vulnerabilities. Metasploit is used to conduct attacks on infrastructure and test the security of systems.
3. Aircrack-ng: a set of tools for working with wireless networks. It allows you to intercept and analyze data packets, test the stability of Wi-Fi networks.
4. Wireshark: A powerful network packet analyzer. Wireshark allows you to analyze network traffic in real time, detect anomalies and possible vulnerabilities.
5. John the Ripper: A tool for guessing passwords using various methods, including brute force, dictionary, and hybrid methods.
6. Hydra: a tool for automated password guessing. Used to attack SSH, FTP, HTTP and other protocols.
7. Burp Suite: A web application testing suite that allows you to detect vulnerabilities such as XSS, SQL injection, and more.

Popular Tools in Parrot OS​

1. AnonSurf: A built-in tool for anonymous internet browsing. AnonSurf redirects traffic through the Tor network, which helps hide the user's activity.
2. I2P: another tool for anonymous internet connection. Unlike Tor, I2P is better suited for exchanging data between users.
3. Faraday: A platform for working with penetration tests in a team environment, making it convenient for organizing collaboration.
4. Social Engineering Toolkit (SET): A social engineering tool that allows you to create phishing attacks by deceiving users.
5. Forensic Tools: Parrot OS also includes digital forensics tools such as Autopsy and Foremost, which are used for data recovery and file system analysis.

Conclusion​

Kali Linux and Parrot OS are both powerful tools for cybersecurity tasks, but they approach them differently. Kali Linux is aimed at penetration testers and offers a rich set of tools for professionals. Parrot OS focuses on privacy and versatility, providing built-in features to protect privacy and optimize performance on older computers.

Choose the distribution that best suits your needs, whether it's a powerful suite of penetration testing tools or a lightweight system for anonymity and security.

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