Step by step how to Create Bootable USB Kali Linux on Windows: 1. Download the USB Installer from the link above, and double click, it is a standalone executable file. Plug the USB we want to use to create the bootable usb. On the USB installer window. Step 1: Choose which linux distro or O.S we want to put on our USB. A minimum of 20 GB disk space for the Kali Linux install. RAM minimum: 1GB, and recommended: 2GB or more. USB or CD-DVD Drive boot support. Instructions to install Kali Linux on Dell G7 15 1. Download Kali Linux. Download Kali Linux from the official website if you have not downloaded yet; Boot the ISO file from USB by following instructions below.
Before we start, I know, there are tons of instructions around the web for creating a USB bootable version of Kali with Persistence, but I’ve decided to create my own after running into a few difficulties which will hopefully help a few people.
Here’s what I’m using:
- 16GB SanDisk USB3 stick
- Kali 2016.1 32bit ISO
- Win32 diskimager
- Windows 7 Laptop to create it on
To create the bootable USB
Download, install and run win32 diskimager — https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
Make sure no other USB devices are available, you do not want to overwrite the wrong USB device with all your important data on! Browse to the Kali ISO you downloaded from https://www.kali.org/. Select your USB device.
If you’re happy you’ve selected the correct USB drive and ISO, hit Write and grab yourself a drink this will take a few minutes…When the installation has completed close the installer, your bootable Kali is ready.
Now to enable Persistence
Boot into the USB, usually F12 during start-up on your laptop or PC.
NOTE: If your device doesn’t boot you might have to change the Boot Mode in the BIOS to Legacy, it could be set to UEFI by default.
Once you’re in the Kali Boot Menu select the top option Live (686-pae)IMPORTANT: do not boot into Live Persistence as everything you do after this step will not work!
Once logged in, go to Show Applications and select GParted.
Select the correct device, by default it may show the partitions of the physical device rather than the USB. GParted — Devices — Select your USB.
You should see the allocated space with Kali installed on /dev/sdb1 and the remaining unallocated disk space that we will use for persistence.
Select the unallocated space — file system ext4 — give the partition a label i.e. persistence — Add — Edit — Apply All Operations.
When completed, make a note of the partition name i.e. /dev/sdb3 then close GParted.
Next, we need to mount the new partition to add the persistence.conf file.
Open a terminal and enter the following commands:
- mkdir -p /mnt/usb
- mount /dev/sdb3 mnt/usb — this is the partition that you just created and made a note of its name
- echo “/union” > /mnt/usb/persistence.conf
- umount /mnt/usb && reboot
Log into Kali Live Persistence.
Test Persistence
Create a folder and save it to the desktop or documents and restart. Boot into Kali Live Persistence and if all goes well, those files or folders you just saved should be still there.
You’ve done it, enjoy!
Anyone who wants to test a WiFi signals security will need a few tools, with a compatible USB adapter being the most important.
Kali Linux and Aircrack-ng is the most commonly used software with some other options also available.
Finding a good USB adapter is necessary since most dongles can not go into Monitor Mode and do the things that wireless Pen Testing needs.
What Makes a Kali Linux USB Adapter Compatible?
The Chipset and Drivers written for a card is what makes a dongle compatible with Kali.
To do wireless Penetration Testing a card must be able to go into Monitor Mode and do Packet Injections, most cards cant do this.
There are known chipsets that will work with Kali and Pen testing.
Most Popular Kali Linux Pen Testing Wireless Chipsets.
Atheros AR9271
Ralink RT3070
Ralink RT3572
Ralink RT5572
Realtek RTL8812AU
Ralink RT5370N
One thing to keep in mind is occasionally although rare manufactures can change the chipset in an adapter.
This happens when a new updated version of the adapter is introduced. Although it doesn’t happen often it has happened in the past with popular dongles.
Below is a list of the most popular USB adapters that work with Kali or Backtrack.
They also will work with most any Linux Distro that requires a wireless card to go into monitor mode.
To see which USB dongles are used the most we had a poll, here are the results.
Don’t forget to take the new Poll at the bottom of the page for your favorite Kali Linux USB adapter of 2019.
Top Best Kali Linux Pen Testing USB Adapters 2019
- TP-Link TL-WN722N(Version 1 Only)
Adapter Name | Chipset | Frequency | Protocol | Antenna |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alfa AWUS036NH | Ralink RT3070 | 2.4GHz | 802.11N | External |
Alfa AWUS036NHA | Atheros AR9271 | 2.4GHz | 802.11N | External |
TP-Link TL-WN722N V1 | Atheros AR9271 | 2.4GHz | 802.11N | External |
Alfa AWUS036ACH | RTL8812AU | 2.4GHz/5Ghz | 802.11AC | External |
Panda PAU05 | Ralink RT5572 | 2.4GHz | 802.11N | Internal |
Panda PAU09 | Ralink RT5572 | 2.4GHz | 802.11N | External |
Alfa AWUS036NEH | Ralink RT3070 | 2.4GHz | 802.11N | External |
Alfa AWUS051NH | Ralink RT3572 | 2.4GHz/5Ghz | 802.11N | External |
Alfa AWUS036H | Realtek 8187L | 2.4GHz | 802.11G | External |
Adapters that use the Ralink RT5572 chipset
Panda Wireless PAU09…….Amazon
Panda Wireless PAU09…….eBay
Read Full Panda PAU09 Review Here
Adapters that use the Ralink RT3070 Chipset
Alfa AWUS036NH 2.4 GHz…….Amazon
Alfa AWUS036NH 2.4 GHz…….eBay
Alfa AWUS036NEH 2.4 GHz…….Amazon
Panda PAU05 2.4 GHz…….Amazon
Adapters that use the Atheros AR9271 Chipset
Alfa AWUS036NHA…….Amazon
UPDATE: TP-LINK TL-WN722N Chipset Change
TP-Link has released a new Version 2 of the TL-WN722N which does not work with Kali and Pen testing.
The Chipset for the TP-LINK TL-WN722N Version 2 has changed. If a TL-WN722N is bought be sure it is a Version 1.
TP-Link TL-WN722N…….Amazon
TP-LINK TL-WN722N…….eBay
Adapter that use the RT3572 Chipset
Alfa AWUS051NH Dual Band 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz…….eBay
Adapters that use the Realtek RTL8812AU Chipset
Alfa AWUS036ACH…….Amazon
The Alfa AWUS036ACH had new Drivers codded for it that allows it to go into Monitor Mode.
This is big news since it is the first 802.11ac USB compatible Kali Linux adapter.
The Driver may need to be loaded with the command “apt-get install realtek-rtl88xxau-dkms”.
Wireless G only USB adapters, Realtek 8187L chipset
The following USB adapters are dongles that were very popualr in the past but since they only support Wireless-G they have become dated.
Alfa AWUS036H USB adapter 2.4 GHz…….Amazon
Netgear WG111v2 USB adapter 2.4 GHz…….Amazon
Sabrent NT-WGHU USB adapter 2.4 GHz…….Amazon
Summary
If you are new to Kali Linux and wireless Pen Testing finding the right USB adapter can be confusing at first.
Any of the above adapters will work with Kali and it comes down to which one is right for your setup.
For example if you are using Windows 10 with VMware to run Kali, the adapter will have to be Windows 10 compatible.
Some may want a longer range adapter to get a signal from farther away which an adapter with a bigger dBi antenna would be better with range.
Big adapters with big antennas are not very stealthy in which case a small USB adapter may be the better option.
For those who simply want to get started with Kali getting the cheapest dongle would be best.
What Is Your Favorite Kali Linux USB Dongle?
New 2019 POLL
Old 2018 POLL
If you have a USB adapter that works well with Kali let us know in the comments.