Kali Linux 2021.2, the famous penetration testing distro has been released with a mixture of new tools as well as enhancements of existing features.
It is widely used by millions of security professionals, and hackers on both offensive and defensive sides and it contains hundrends of Hacking tools by default.
New Tools Added to the Kali Linux 2021.2 Arsenal
This newly-released version Kali Linux 2021.2, includes frameworks such as Kaboxer, Kali-Tweaks, Bleeding-Edge & Privileged Ports.
Kaboxer v1.0
Kaboxer helps developers to correctly package up previously difficult programs, according to Kali developers “Kaboxer is a game-changer”.
“Kaboxer is in how it makes it easy to tie together docker containers with the host system, through the usual docker features such as mount points and port redirections, but also integration with desktop menu entries.”
Kali-Tweaks v1.0
This tool helps users to Quickly & simply customize kali based on their personal taste. Currently, Kali-Tweaks comes with Metapackages, Network Repositories, Shell & Prompt, and Virtualization.
kali-tweaks comes as a recommended tool, not the required one, so it will not be included in the upgrades.
Bleeding-Edge Branch
It is available since 2013, with Kali Linux 2021.2 the tools were completely restructured in the backend. It is a repository that contains daily builds for several useful and frequently updated tools.
Bleeding Edge “enables your APT configuration to have access to packages built with the latest version of the source code found in the upstream git repository.”
Disabled Privileged Ports
Kali linux kernel has been modified ” to remove the restriction of requiring privilege permission to use TCP & UDP ports under 1024.”
Other new Tools
- CloudBrute – Find a company infrastructure, files, and apps on the top cloud providers
- Dirsearch – Brute force directories and files in web servers
- Feroxbuster – Simple, fast, recursive content discovery
- Ghidra – Reverse engineering framework
- Pacu – AWS exploitation framework
- Peirates – Kubernetes penetration
- Quark-Engine – Android malware scoring system
- VSCode a.k.a. Visual Studio Code Open Source (“Code-OSS”) – Code editor
Theme & Wallpaper Enhancement
ZSH is the new default shell for Kali linux, if you using ZSH “the latest Kali profile applied, you can toggle between the two-line prompt and one-line prompt by pressing: CTRL + p”.
With the release of Kali Linux 2021.2, quick launch tray in the top left by dropping screen recorder button and included text editor shortcut, web browser icon and drop-down menu.
Now by right-clicking on the main window, you should have a new option, Open as Root. All these theme updates will be available only in fresh installation and the upgrade will alter only system files.
The updated version comes with default new login wallpaper and desktop background, also the kali-community-wallpapers & kali-wallpapers-legacy packages as well.
Raspberry Pi Recharged
Raspberry Pi Recharged with two new packages kalipi-config and kalipi-tft-config that TFT displays on a Raspberry Pi.
Plenty of improvements under the hood, including:
- Improved compatibility with dynamic partitions
- Improvements to the persistence of Magisk root
- Improvements to Bluetooth and settings menus
- Inclusion of rtl88xxau patches for older kernels in the kernel builder
Android 11 support for:
- Nokia 6.1
- OnePlus One
- OnePlus Nord
- Xiaomi Poco F1
- Xiaomi Mi A3
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Download Kali Linux 2021.2
Now you can use the following command to update your system to the latest Kali Linux 2021.2:-
sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade
If you are already having a Kali Linux and want to upgrade;
kali@kali:~$ echo “deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib” | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list kali@kali:~$ kali@kali:~$ sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade kali@kali:~$ kali@kali:~$ [ -f /var/run/reboot-required ] && sudo reboot -f kali@kali:~$
For new installation you can download from here.
To check after upgradation for Kali Linux 2021.2;
kali@kali:~$ grep VERSION /etc/os-release
You are also recommended to review our Kali Linux Tutorials which cover dozens of Kali Linux Tools. Also, Learn the Kali Linux course and complete Kali Linux Commands List.
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