# Kali Linux

> Debian-derived Linux distribution

**Wikidata**: [Q8364850](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8364850)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Linux)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kali-linux

## Summary

Kali Linux is a Linux distribution[1]. It was established on March 13, 2013[2].

## Summary
Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 2013 by OffSec (formerly Offensive Security), Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution.
- It is primarily used for digital forensics and penetration testing.
- The project is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
- It is based on the Debian operating system.
- The first version was released on March 13, 2013.
- It supports multiple platforms including x86 and ARM architecture.
- Kali Linux uses the dpkg package management system.
- A derivative called Kali Purple focuses on defensive security.

### FAQs
### Q: What is Kali Linux used for?
A: Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution primarily used for digital forensics and penetration testing.

### Q: Is Kali Linux free to use?
A: Yes, Kali Linux is free and open-source, licensed under the GNU General Public License.

### Q: How do I install Kali Linux?
A: Kali Linux can be installed via digital download, and detailed installation guides are available on its official website.

### Q: What is the difference between Kali Linux and BackTrack?
A: Kali Linux succeeded BackTrack, with Kali being a newer, actively maintained distribution focused on digital forensics and penetration testing.

## Why It Matters
Kali Linux is a foundational tool in the field of cybersecurity, serving as a comprehensive, open-source platform for digital forensics and penetration testing. It replaced the popular BackTrack distribution, offering updated tools, regular updates, and active community support. For security professionals—including ethical hackers, penetration testers, and digital forensics experts—Kali Linux democratizes access to specialized security tools, enabling them to identify vulnerabilities, test system security, and conduct ethical security assessments. Its role in standardizing offensive security workflows has made it a de facto industry standard, shaping how organizations and individuals approach cybersecurity testing and incident response.

## Notable For
- It is the successor to BackTrack, a widely used security-focused distribution, and has become the most prominent Linux-based platform for penetration testing and digital forensics.
- It is the first and most widely adopted Linux distribution specifically designed for offensive security tasks, with a vast collection of pre-installed security tools.
- It supports multiple architectures, including ARM, allowing it to run on devices like the Raspberry Pi for embedded security testing.
- It has a dedicated, active community and regular updates, ensuring tools remain current with emerging threats and technologies.
- It is licensed under the GNU General Public License, making it free and open-source for use, modification, and distribution.

## Body
### Overview
Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution, as indicated by its structured properties. It was developed by OffSec (formerly Offensive Security) and was first released on March 13, 2013. The project is licensed under the GNU General Public License and uses the dpkg package management system.

### Core Features
The primary use cases for Kali Linux are digital forensics and penetration testing, as specified in its structured properties. It includes a wide array of security tools pre-installed, making it a one-stop solution for security professionals. The distribution supports multiple platforms, including x86 and ARM architecture, and can run on devices such as the Raspberry Pi.

### Versions and Releases
Kali Linux has undergone several major releases since its inception. The first version, 1.0, was released on March 13, 2013. Subsequent versions include 1.06 (January 9, 2014), 1.07 (May 27, 2014), 1.1.0 (February 9, 2015), 2.0 (August 11, 2015), and 2016.1 (January 21, 2016), among others. Each version includes updates to tools and security patches.

### Platform Support
Kali Linux is designed to run on various hardware platforms. It supports x86 and ARM architecture, allowing installation on standard computers as well as low-cost single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi. This flexibility enables users to deploy Kali Linux on different devices for testing and security tasks.

### Community and Resources
Kali Linux has a robust community and official resources. The official website (https://kali.org) provides documentation, installation guides, and news. Social media channels include Twitter (@kalilinux), Facebook (KaliLinux), and Mastodon (kalilinux@infosec.exchange). Forums (https://forums.kali.org/) and issue trackers (https://bugs.kali.org/) are available for user support and bug reporting.

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  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Kali Linux",
  "description": "A Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing.",
  "url": "https://kali.org",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15241312", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_Linux"]
}

## References

1. [Source](http://docs.kali.org/introduction/what-is-kali-linux)
2. [Source](http://docs.kali.org/policy/kali-linux-open-source-policy)
3. [Source](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-1-0-6-release/)
4. [Source](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-1-0-7-release/)
5. [Source](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-1-1-0-release/)
6. [Source](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2-0-release/)
7. [Source](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-1-0-0-release/)
8. [Kali Linux, Rolling Edition Released – 2016.1](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-rolling-edition-2016-1/)
9. [Source](https://www.kali.org/releases/kali-linux-20162-release/)
10. [Source](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-2018-1-release/)
11. [Source](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-2018-2-release/)
12. [Source](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-20171-release/)
13. [2017](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-2017-2-release/)
14. [2017](https://www.kali.org/releases/kali-linux-2017-3-release/)
15. [Source](https://www.kali.org/releases/kali-linux-2018-3-release/)
16. [Source](https://www.kali.org/kali-linux-releases/)
17. [Kali Linux 2019.2 Release](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-2019-2-release/)
18. [2019](https://www.kali.org/releases/kali-linux-2019-3-release/)
19. [2019](https://www.kali.org/releases/kali-linux-2019-4-release/)
20. [2020](https://www.kali.org/releases/kali-linux-2020-1-release/)
21. [2020](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-2020-2-release/)
22. [2020](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-2020-3-release/)
23. [2020](https://www.kali.org/news/kali-linux-2020-4-release/)
24. [2021](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2021-1-release/)
25. [2021](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2021-2-release/)
26. [2021](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2021-3-release/)
27. [Kali Linux 2021.4 Release](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2021-4-release/)
28. [Kali Linux 2022.1 Release (Visual Updates, Kali Everything ISOs, Legacy SSH)](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2022-1-release/)
29. [Kali Linux 2022.2 Release. 2022](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2022-2-release)
30. [Source](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2022-3-release/)
31. [Kali Linux 2022.4 Release (Azure, Social & Kali NetHunter Pro). 2022](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2022-4-release/)
32. [Kali Linux 2023.1 Release (Kali Purple & Python Changes). 2023](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2023-1-release/)
33. [Kali Linux 2023.2 Release (Hyper-V & PipeWire). 2023](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2023-2-release/)
34. [Kali Linux 2023.3 Release (Internal Infrastructure & Kali Autopilot). 2023](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2023-3-release/)
35. [Kali Linux 2023.4 Release (Cloud ARM64, Vagrant Hyper-V & Raspberry Pi 5). 2023](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2023-4-release/)
36. [Kali Linux 2024.1 Release (Micro Mirror). 2024](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2024-1-release/)
37. [Kali Linux 2024.2 Release (t64, GNOME 46 & Community Packages) | Kali Linux Blog. 2024](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2024-2-release/)
38. [Kali Linux 2024.3 Release (Multiple transitions) | Kali Linux Blog. 2024](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2024-3-release/)
39. [Kali Linux 2024.4 Release (Python 3.12, Goodbye i386, Raspberry Pi Imager & Kali NetHunter). 2024](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2024-4-release/)
40. [Kali Linux 2025.1a Release (2025 Theme, & Raspberry Pi). 2025](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2025-1-release/)
41. [A New Kali Linux Archive Signing Key. 2025](https://www.kali.org/blog/new-kali-archive-signing-key/)
42. [Kali Linux 2025.2 Release (Kali Menu Refresh, BloodHound CE & CARsenal). 2025](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2025-2-release/)
43. [Kali Linux 2025.3 Release (Vagrant & Nexmon) | Kali Linux Blog. 2025](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2025-3-release/)
44. [Source](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2025-4-release/)
45. [Kali Linux 2026.1 Release (2026 Theme & BackTrack Mode). 2026](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2026-1-release/)
46. [Source](https://www.kali.org/docs/installation/hard-disk-install/)
47. [Source](https://www.kali.org/get-kali/)
48. [Source](https://kali.org/)
49. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
50. [Source](https://www.kali.org/)