It's important to clarify that hacking, in the context of computer security, can refer to both ethical hacking (also known as penetration testing or white-hat hacking) and malicious hacking (black-hat hacking). Ethical hacking involves security professionals who work to identify and fix vulnerabilities in systems, whereas malicious hacking involves unauthorized access to systems for illegal or unethical purposes.
If you're interested in ethical hacking and cybersecurity, the choice of operating system largely depends on your specific goals and preferences. Here are a few popular choices often used by ethical hackers:
If you're new to ethical hacking, consider pursuing formal training and certification programs in cybersecurity to build a strong foundation and ensure that you're using your skills for positive purposes.
If you're interested in ethical hacking and cybersecurity, the choice of operating system largely depends on your specific goals and preferences. Here are a few popular choices often used by ethical hackers:
- Kali Linux: Kali Linux is a specialized Linux distribution designed for penetration testing and ethical hacking. It comes with a wide range of pre-installed tools for security testing and vulnerability assessment.
- Parrot Security OS: Another Linux distribution similar to Kali Linux, Parrot Security OS is designed for security, privacy, and development work. It includes various penetration testing tools.
- BlackArch Linux: This is an Arch Linux-based distribution that focuses on penetration testing and security research. It offers a large repository of tools for hacking and security testing.
- Ubuntu: While not designed specifically for hacking, Ubuntu is a popular Linux distribution that offers a stable environment and is widely used by security professionals for ethical hacking tasks.
- BackBox: BackBox Linux is a penetration testing and security assessment distribution based on Ubuntu. It provides a variety of tools for network analysis, vulnerability assessment, and more.
- Security-focused Virtual Machines: Instead of a dedicated hacking OS, you can also use virtualization software like VMware or VirtualBox to create security-focused virtual machines (VMs). This allows you to run different operating systems with security tools within your main operating system.
If you're new to ethical hacking, consider pursuing formal training and certification programs in cybersecurity to build a strong foundation and ensure that you're using your skills for positive purposes.