Prepare to hack : Getting your environment ready

 

The first step for you to start doing your pentesting activities is to have an environment as complete as possible ahead of your exercises, this will save you time and you can start building over it. In this space I will show you the extra tools I add to my Kali Linux machine after the initial setup.

Tools

Git

sudo apt-get install git

Pimp my Kali

https://github.com/Dewalt-arch/pimpmykali.git

This will install some fixes for new imported Kali Linux virtual machines.

Installing Kali Metapackages

apt-get install kali-linux-everything

Every metapackage and tool in Kali is listed here.

for more information: https://www.kali.org/docs/general-use/metapackages/

Terminal Emulators

        Terminator

    sudo apt-get install terminator

        https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/terminator-a-linux-terminal-emulator/

        Tmux

        https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki/Installing

        Tillix

        https://gnunn1.github.io/tilix-web/

        Guake

        http://guake-project.org/

        Konsole

        https://konsole.kde.org/

Note: you don't have to install them all, pick your favorite.

Install Notetakers / Code Editors

        Sublime Text  

    sudo apt install sublime-text

Install Code Tools

        Visual Studio

        https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/setup/linux

        VS Code

        https://www.ceos3c.com/security/install-vscode-on-kali-linux-easiest-way/

Installing extra Hacking Tools

https://github.com/blackhatethicalhacking/Clone_BHEH_Offensive_Tools_v1

This includes SecLists, offensive scripts, reconnaissance, reporting, DDoS, Forensics & more.

XAMPP

https://www.apachefriends.org/download.html

Recon / Discovery Tools

    Reconftw

    https://github.com/six2dez/reconftw

    Dirsearch    

sudo apt install dirsearch

    https://www.kali.org/tools/dirsearch/

    Amass

    https://github.com/owasp-amass/amass/blob/master/doc/install.md

Customize your Terminal

https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/customize-linux-terminal

You can get cool tools like figlet, sensors, lolcat, etc.

Configuration

Some configuration I also make sure I make is the following:

Configure SSH

Steps:

cd /etc/ssh/

dpkg-reconfigure openssh-server

nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Change port number

uncomment auth enforce

Create your own aliases

This is an example to create an alias to see my external IP

First we test the command

curl ipecho.net/plain ; echo

Now we create the alias

alias myip="curl ipecho.net/plain ; echo"

Configure ZSH / Bash Alias

Steps:

history | grep zsh

nano  /root/.zshrc

Go to the end and start building your alias 

I hope this gives you some ideas of what to setup after a fresh installation of Kali Linux. What other would you recommend? ♥