We all know very well that a hacker is someone who seeks out and exploits weaknesses in a computer system or computer network. Hackers can be motivated by a multitude of reasons, such as profit, protest, challenge, enjoyment, or evaluating these weaknesses to help eliminate them.
The top 15 best operating systems for hackers
A hacker is someone who seeks out and exploits weaknesses in a computer or networked computer system. Hackers can be motivated by a multitude of reasons, such as profit, protest, challenge, enjoyment, or evaluating these weaknesses to help eliminate them.
The operating systems listed are based on the Linux kernel, so they are free operating systems.
1. Kali Linux
Kali Linux maintained and funded by Offensive Security Ltd. and he’s the first on our list. Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital testing and penetration testing. It was developed by Mati Aharoni and Devon Kearns of Offensive Security by rewriting BackTrack, its previous Linux forensics distribution based on Ubuntu. Kali Linux has a specific project for removing compatibility and portability from specific Android devices called Kali Linux NetHunter. This is the first source of open testing platform penetration for Android Nexus devices, created as a joint effort between security community member and offensive Kali “BinkyBear”. It supports 802.11 wireless frame injection, one-click configurations of the MANA Evil access point, HID keyboard (Teensy like attacks), as well as MITM USB Mala attacks.
2. Back Box
Back Box is an evaluation penetration test testing Linux distribution and Ubuntu-based security aimed at providing analysis of computer network systems and tools. The desktop environment includes a comprehensive set of tools necessary for ethical hacking and security testing.
3. Parrot Security OS
Parrot Security OS is a GNU / Linux distribution based on Debian. Fue built for the purpose of performing Penetration Testing (Security Information), Vulnerability Assessment and Mitigation, Computer Forensics and Anonymous Surfing.H was developed by the Frozen Box team.
Parrot is based on the stable (Jessie) branch of Debian, a custom hardened Linux 4.1 kernel with a fixed grsecurity branch available. The desktop environment is the MATE branch of Gnome 2 and the default display manager is LightDM. The project is certified to run on machines with a minimum of 265MB RAM and is suitable for both 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (amd64), with a special edition that works on 32-bit machines of the age (486 ). In addition, the project is available for Armel and armhf architectures. It even offers an edition (both 32-bit and 64-bit) developed for servers only for cloud pen testing.
4. Live Hacking OS
Live Hacking OS is a Linux distribution containing tools and utilities for ethical hacking, penetration testing, and verification of countermeasures. It includes the built-in GNOME GUI user. There is a second variant available which only has the command line and requires much less hardware.
5. DEFT Linux
DEFT is the abbreviation for Digital Evidence and Forensic Toolkit. It is a free software distribution based on the DART (Toolkit for Advanced Response Digital) and based on the Ubuntu operating system. It was designed from the ground up to offer some of the best open source forensics and incident response IT tools that can be used by individuals, IT auditors, investigators, military and law enforcement.
6. Samurai Web Testing Framework
The Samurai Web Testing Framework is a live Linux environment that has been preconfigured to function as a web-based pen testing environment. The CD contains the best of open source and free tools that focus on testing and attacking websites. In the development of this environment it is based on our selection of tools that we use in our security practice. Therefore, it includes the tools that were used in the four steps of a pen testing website.
7. Network Security Toolkit
The Network Security Toolkit (NST) is a Linux-based Live CD that provides a set of computer security tools and an open source network to perform routine security tasks and diagnostic and tracing networks. The distribution can be used as a network security scan, validation, and monitoring tool for servers hosting virtual machines. NST has management capabilities similar to Fedora packages and maintains its own repository of additional packages.
8. Bugtraq
Bugtraq is a mailing list dedicated to computer security issues. The topic brings up new discussions about vulnerabilities, providers of security advisories, methods of exploitation and how to resolve them. This is a high volume mailing list, and almost all of the new vulnerabilities are here. We are talking about Bugtraq computer monsters and experienced developers, available in Debian, Ubuntu and openSUSE 32 and 64 bit architectures.
9. NodeZero
NodeZero is an open source kernel-based operating system derived from the world’s most popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu, and designed to be used for penetration testing operations. The distribution can be downloaded as a live ISO image DVD, which will also take place on computers that support 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x86_64) instruction sets. Besides the fact that it allows you to start the system live, the Start menu contains several advanced features such as the ability to perform a diagnostic test of the system memory, boot from local disk options, directly launch the program Setup text mode or debug mode.
Default graphical desktop environment NodeZero is powered by GNOME, which uses the classic GNOME interface. It has a two-panel design and uses Ubuntu’s default software repositories.
10. Pentoo
Pentoo is a USB Live CD and Live operating system designed for penetration testing and security evaluation. It is based on Gentoo Linux, Pentoo is offered as both 32 bit and 64 bit live cd which is installable. Pentoo is also available as an overlay of an existing Gentoo installation. It has wifi patched packet injection drivers, GPGPU cracking software, and many tools for penetration testing and security assessment. The kernel includes Pentoo security and PAX hardening and additional fixes with the compiled binary of a hardened string with the latest nightly versions of a few tools that are available.
# 11 Live Hacking OS
Well, this Linux distro actually comes with some useful hacking tools that are often used in penetration testing or for ethical hacking purposes. Live Hacking OS consists of built-in GNOME. The operating system is really easy to use and can run with less RAM.
# 12 Knoppix STD
This is another best Linux distro that focuses on computer security tools. Knoppix STD brings some advanced tools for password cracking, firewalls, network utilities, honeypots, wireless networking and more. It is one of the operating systems most used by hackers.
# 13 Cyborg Hawk
Cyborg Hawk is a new operating system based on Ubuntu Linux. Well, a lot of hackers are talking about Cyborg Hawk and her most powerful and advanced penetration testing distro that has ever been created. The operating system hosts more than 700 tools for different purposes.
# 14 Blackbuntu
Well, this is another Linux based operating system specially developed for penetration testing. Well, the operating system is very famous among hackers and it offers an awesome platform for learning information security.
# 15 Weakerth4n
Well, this is another best operating system which is used by professional hackers. WeakerTh4n actually comes with a lot of hacking tools and is actually a modern operating system for WiFi Hacking. Some of the wireless tools include SQL Hacking, Password Cracking, WiFi Attacks, Cisco Exploitation and more.
So, here is the list of top 15 operating systems used by professional hackers. If you have something to add on the list, be sure to drop the names in the comments box below. So what do you think? Share your opinions in the comments box below.
