Kali Linux is a Linux distribution focused on penetration testing and security research. After installation, performing some basic configurations will make the system more efficient and secure. This guide covers the most common initial setup steps.
1. Update the System
Keeping your system up to date is essential for stability and security:
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
2. Configure Mirror Sources
The default repositories may be slow depending on your location. Edit the sources list to use a faster mirror:
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Add an appropriate official mirror.
3. Create a Regular User
It is not recommended to use the root account directly. Create a non-root user:
sudo adduser newuser
sudo usermod -aG sudo newuser
4. Configure SSH
If you need remote access, enable and configure SSH:
sudo systemctl enable ssh
sudo systemctl start ssh
For better security, edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config to disable root login.
5. Install Common Tools
While Kali comes with many security tools, you may want to add general-purpose packages:
sudo apt install vim git curl net-tools -y
6. Set Up a Firewall
Enhance security by enabling UFW and allowing only necessary services:
sudo apt install ufw -y
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw allow ssh
7. Configure the Shell Environment
To improve efficiency, you can install Zsh and Oh-My-Zsh:
sudo apt install zsh -y
chsh -s /bin/zsh
sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"
8. Virtual Machine Tools (Optional)
If running inside VirtualBox or VMware, install guest utilities for better performance:
sudo apt install virtualbox-guest-utils -y