Top 10 Linux distro for ethical hacking and penetration testing

Linux distributions, commonly known as Linux distros, are operating systems with built-in ethical hacking and penetration testing tools. Security researchers, penetration testers, and ethical hackers use Linux distros to perform various security tasks for organizations. 

Whether you are pursuing a career in cybersecurity or you’re interested in learning more about penetration testing, there is a Linux distribution OS for you. 

Here are the top 10 Linux distributions for ethical hacking optimand penetration testing to kick-start your learning.  

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1. Kali Linux

Kali Linux is the best distro for those learning the basics of penetration testing, but it also remains an ethical hacking staple for professionals in the field. Based on Debian OS, the software uses the Xfce desktop and comes with all the pentesting tools you need to get started. Seasoned professionals also like Kali Linux because it enables users to roll out custom Kali-based distros. The popular OS also offers ample documentation and user-generated tutorials.  

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2. BackBox

BackBox Linux is an Ubuntu-based operating system used for security assessment and penetration testing. This distro has a wide range of security analysis tools for web application and network analysis. BackBox is also simple for beginners, with tooltips and descriptions of each bundled tool. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the application menu, it will help you find exactly what you need. 

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3. Parrot Security OS

Parrot Security OS targets penetration testers and certified security personnel, but it also aims to help those who need a privacy-focused distro such as journalists and ethical hackers. What sets Parrot Security apart from other Linux distributions is that it offers an array of privacy tools and encryption features. It even offers a home edition that anyone can use to stay secure online. It also comes with a digital forensics tab that was built in collaboration with the developers of CAINE.  

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4. BlackArch Linux

BlackArch is popular among experienced researchers and penetration testers because of the sheer number of tools it provides. The UI isn’t exactly beginner-friendly, and there are thousands of tools to choose from, but the repository arrangement is organized so it's easy to find what you’re looking for. BlackArch Linux is always updating and adding new tools to its codebase as it continues to be one of the most popular Linux distros for ethical hackers.

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5. Pentoo Linux

Pentoo is the best Linux distribution for those familiar with Gentoo or who have the time to learn. It can easily be installed as an overlay on top of an existing Gentoo distro, or you can run it alone. This is another Linux distribution that might require a steep learning curve for beginner penetration testers. The organization might be too broad for someone without much knowledge about ethical hacking and pentesting, and there is a notable lack of documentation and support. Still, it remains popular among Gentoo enthusiasts.  

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6. Caine

Once you have some pentesting experience, CAINE is another tool that might find its way into your toolkit. CAINE stands for computer-aided investigation environment. This distro was created to make analyzing disks and drives easier with the help of automation to generate useful reports for security teams. Built on Ubuntu, it’s the perfect distro for testing machine learning environments, which are becoming increasingly common and growing by 38% annually.   

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7. Samurai WTF

Samurai Web Testing Framework (WTF) is essentially a live Linux environment that comes pre-configured to work as a web penetration testing platform. It contains multiple free and open-source hacking tools for detecting web vulnerabilities. It is often known as the best operating system for Web Penetration Testing.

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8. Network security toolkit (NST)

NST is a bootable live DVD/USB flash drive that offers free, open-source security and networking tools that enable teams to perform both routine security diagnostics as well as professional penetration testing operations. It’s a Linux distribution made for virtual machines and can be used for analysis, validation and monitoring. NST’s “all-in-one” toolkit is popular because it offers a range of tools for various security purposes for ethical hackers, professional pentesters, and beginners.  

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9. Bugtraq

Bugtraq is a penetration testing distro designed for reverse engineering and analyzing malware. The Debian-based software is available for several OSs and offers high-quality support for pentesters. Bugtraq comes with several analysis tools, including mobile forensics, malware testing and other features, all built by the Bugtraq community.   

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10. DEFT linux

The open-source Linux distribution DEFT stands for Digital Evidence and Forensic Toolkit. It is based on Ubuntu and built around the DART (Digital Advanced Response Toolkit) software. DEFT is preconfigured with many popular forensic tools and documents that can be used by ethical hackers, penetration testers, IT security specialists and others.

Download DEFT Linux

What should you learn next?

From SOC Analyst to Secure Coder to Security Manager — our team of experts has 12 free training plans to help you hit your goals. Get your free copy now.

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Choosing the best Linux distro

Penetration testers and ethical hackers use Linux distros because Linux is widely used on servers worldwide. Each distribution comes with a unique set of tools, resources, and UI to assist research and pen testers on their mission to eliminate vulnerabilities, identify threats, and prevent incidents. These are just a few of the most popular Linux distributions for penetration testing and ethical hacking, but there are many more.

Visit our penetration testing career hub to learn more about working in the field.