How to Set Up Kali Linux on a Raspberry Pi Model B

Keep your hacking machine in your pocket

Client

Own

Services

Own

Industries

Tech

Date

Sep 27, 2023

The Raspberry Pi is a versatile and affordable single-board computer that has gained immense popularity among tech enthusiasts and cybersecurity professionals. Kali Linux, on the other hand, is a powerful penetration testing and ethical hacking distribution widely used for security testing and research. Combining these two can create a compact and portable hacking toolkit. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of setting up Kali Linux on a Raspberry Pi Model B.

Before You Begin

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

Raspberry Pi Model B (you can use other models, but this guide focuses on Model B).
MicroSD card (16GB or larger recommended).
Power supply for your Raspberry Pi.
A computer running Linux (recommended) or Windows.
Internet connection.

Step 1: Download the Required Files

First, you'll need to download the necessary files for setting up Kali Linux on your Raspberry Pi. Visit the official Kali Linux website (https://www.kali.org/downloads/) and navigate to the "ARM Images" section. Download the Raspberry Pi ARM image compatible with your Pi Model. Make sure to select the correct architecture (e.g., Raspberry Pi 2/3 or Raspberry Pi 4, depending on your model).

Step 2: Flash Kali Linux onto the MicroSD Card

To flash the Kali Linux image onto your microSD card, you can use a tool like "balenaEtcher" or "Raspberry Pi Imager" for Windows or Linux. Follow these steps:

Insert the microSD card into your computer.
Open the flashing tool and select the Kali Linux image you downloaded.
Choose the target device (your microSD card) in the flashing tool.
Click the "Flash" button to start the process. This will write the Kali Linux image to your microSD card.

Step 3: Configure Network and SSH

After flashing the image, you'll need to configure your network settings and enable SSH so you can access your Raspberry Pi remotely. Follow these steps:

Eject the microSD card from your computer and reinsert it.
In the root directory of the microSD card, create a file named ssh (without any file extension). This will enable SSH on first boot.
Configure your Wi-Fi network by creating a file named wpa_supplicant.conf in the root directory with the following content (replace YourSSID and YourPassword with your Wi-Fi credentials):

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
country=US

network={
    ssid="YourSSID"
    psk="YourPassword"
}

Save the file and eject the microSD card.

Before You Begin

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

Raspberry Pi Model B (you can use other models, but this guide focuses on Model B).
MicroSD card (16GB or larger recommended).
Power supply for your Raspberry Pi.
A computer running Linux (recommended) or Windows.
Internet connection.

Step 1: Download the Required Files

Step 2: Flash Kali Linux onto the MicroSD Card

To flash the Kali Linux image onto your microSD card, you can use a tool like "balenaEtcher" or "Raspberry Pi Imager" for Windows or Linux. Follow these steps:

Insert the microSD card into your computer.
Open the flashing tool and select the Kali Linux image you downloaded.
Choose the target device (your microSD card) in the flashing tool.
Click the "Flash" button to start the process. This will write the Kali Linux image to your microSD card.

Step 3: Configure Network and SSH

After flashing the image, you'll need to configure your network settings and enable SSH so you can access your Raspberry Pi remotely. Follow these steps:

Eject the microSD card from your computer and reinsert it.
In the root directory of the microSD card, create a file named ssh (without any file extension). This will enable SSH on first boot.
Configure your Wi-Fi network by creating a file named wpa_supplicant.conf in the root directory with the following content (replace YourSSID and YourPassword with your Wi-Fi credentials):

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
country=US

network={
    ssid="YourSSID"
    psk="YourPassword"
}

Save the file and eject the microSD card.

Step 4: Boot Your Raspberry Pi

Insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi, connect it to a monitor via HDMI, and power it on using an appropriate power supply. The Raspberry Pi should boot up, and you'll see Kali Linux's startup messages on the screen.

Step 5: Initial Login

Once Kali Linux has booted, you'll need to log in. The default username and password are:

Username: kali
Password: kali

Upon the first login, you should change the default password to secure your system.

Step 6: Update and Upgrade

After logging in, open a terminal and run the following commands to update and upgrade your Kali Linux installation:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This will ensure that your system is up to date with the latest packages and security updates.