Kali Linux Interview Questions and Answers
Freshers / Beginner level questions & answers
Ques 1. What is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing.
Example:
Kali Linux provides a wide range of tools for ethical hackers and security professionals to assess system vulnerabilities.
Ques 2. How can you update Kali Linux?
You can update Kali Linux by running 'sudo apt update' followed by 'sudo apt upgrade' in the terminal.
Example:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
Ques 3. What is the default username and password in Kali Linux?
The default username is 'kali' with the password 'kali'.
Example:
Username: kali
Password: kali
Ques 4. How can you check the IP address in Kali Linux?
You can use the 'ifconfig' command to check the IP address of the network interfaces.
Example:
ifconfig
Ques 5. What is 'Kali Linux Live' and how is it used?
'Kali Linux Live' is a feature that allows users to run Kali Linux directly from a bootable USB or DVD without installing it on the system.
Example:
Creating a bootable Kali Linux USB drive using 'dd' command.
Intermediate / 1 to 5 years experienced level questions & answers
Ques 6. Explain the purpose of the 'root' user in Kali Linux.
The 'root' user in Kali Linux has superuser privileges, allowing complete control over the system.
Example:
To run a command as root, use 'sudo' followed by the command.
Ques 7. How do you install new tools in Kali Linux?
You can use the 'apt' package manager to install new tools. For example, 'sudo apt install tool_name'.
Example:
sudo apt install nmap
Ques 8. Explain the purpose of 'aircrack-ng' in Kali Linux.
'Aircrack-ng' is a tool used for assessing Wi-Fi network security. It includes packet capturing, password cracking, and more.
Example:
To crack a WEP key: aircrack-ng -b-w
Ques 9. What is the function of 'Metasploit' in Kali Linux?
'Metasploit' is a penetration testing framework that allows security professionals to find, exploit, and validate vulnerabilities.
Example:
Using 'msfconsole' to access the Metasploit console.
Ques 10. What is the difference between 'apt-get' and 'apt' in Kali Linux?
'apt' is a newer command-line tool that provides the same functionality as 'apt-get' with additional features and improvements.
Example:
Both 'apt-get update' and 'apt update' update the package lists.
Ques 11. Explain the purpose of the 'John the Ripper' tool in Kali Linux.
'John the Ripper' is a password cracking tool used to perform dictionary attacks and brute-force attacks on password hashes.
Example:
Using 'john' to crack a password hash: john --format=md5 --wordlist=passwords.txt hashfile
Ques 12. What is the purpose of the 'Wireshark' tool in Kali Linux?
'Wireshark' is a network protocol analyzer used for troubleshooting, analysis, and development of communication protocols.
Example:
Capturing packets on a network interface using 'Wireshark'.
Ques 13. How can you perform a network scan using 'Nmap' in Kali Linux?
To perform a network scan, use the 'nmap' command followed by the target IP or range of IPs.
Example:
nmap 192.168.1.1
Ques 14. What is the purpose of the 'Netcat' tool in Kali Linux?
'Netcat' is a versatile networking tool used for reading and writing data across network connections, making it useful for port scanning and file transfers.
Example:
Setting up a simple listener using 'Netcat': nc -lvp 4444
Ques 15. Explain the purpose of 'Snort' in Kali Linux.
'Snort' is an open-source intrusion detection system (IDS) that analyzes network traffic for suspicious activity and alerts administrators.
Example:
Configuring 'Snort' rules to detect specific types of attacks.
Ques 16. How do you perform a wireless network reconnaissance using 'Wifite' in Kali Linux?
Wifite is a tool for automated wireless auditing that performs various attacks, including capturing handshakes and launching deauthentication attacks.
Example:
Running 'Wifite' to automatically audit nearby wireless networks.
Ques 17. Explain the purpose of the 'tcpdump' command in Kali Linux.
'tcpdump' is a command-line packet analyzer that captures and displays network traffic for analysis or debugging purposes.
Example:
Capturing packets on interface eth0 with 'tcpdump'.
Ques 18. What is the role of 'iptables' in Kali Linux?
'iptables' is a user-space utility that allows a system administrator to configure IP packet filter rules to control network traffic.
Example:
Creating a rule to allow incoming traffic on port 22: iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT
Ques 19. Explain the purpose of 'GPG' (GNU Privacy Guard) in Kali Linux.
'GPG' is a cryptographic software tool used for secure communication and data integrity verification through the use of public and private keys.
Example:
Encrypting a file with 'GPG': gpg --output encrypted_file.gpg --encrypt --recipient recipient_key file_to_encrypt
Experienced / Expert level questions & answers
Ques 20. Explain the purpose of 'Burp Suite' in Kali Linux.
'Burp Suite' is a web application security testing tool used for scanning, crawling, and analyzing web applications.
Example:
Using 'Burp Suite' to intercept and modify HTTP requests.
Ques 21. Explain the purpose of 'Hydra' in Kali Linux.
'Hydra' is a password cracking tool that supports various protocols, including SSH, FTP, and HTTP.
Example:
Using 'Hydra' to perform an SSH brute-force attack: hydra -l username -P password.txt ssh://target
Ques 22. What is the significance of the 'Maltego' tool in Kali Linux?
'Maltego' is a data mining tool used for information gathering and link analysis in online investigations.
Example:
Using 'Maltego' to visualize relationships between different entities.
Ques 23. Explain the purpose of the 'Aircrack-ng' suite.
'Aircrack-ng' is a set of tools used for the penetration testing of wireless networks, including WEP and WPA/WPA2 security assessments.
Example:
Cracking a WPA2 passphrase using 'Aircrack-ng'.
Ques 24. How do you use 'sqlmap' in Kali Linux for SQL injection testing?
You can use 'sqlmap' by providing the target URL and parameters susceptible to SQL injection.
Example:
sqlmap -u 'http://example.com/index.php?id=1' --dbs
Ques 25. How do you use the 'Veil-Evasion' framework in Kali Linux?
Veil-Evasion is a tool for generating undetectable payload executables for bypassing antivirus solutions in penetration testing.
Example:
Generating a payload with 'Veil-Evasion': veil-evasion --payload=python/meterpreter/rev_https --overwrite --out=/root/Desktop/veil_payload
Ques 26. What is the purpose of the 'Hashcat' tool in Kali Linux?
'Hashcat' is a password recovery tool used for advanced password cracking, supporting various hashing algorithms and attack modes.
Example:
Cracking a SHA-256 hashed password with 'Hashcat'.
Ques 27. Explain the purpose of 'BeEF' (Browser Exploitation Framework) in Kali Linux.
'BeEF' is a penetration testing tool that focuses on the exploitation of web browsers, allowing the tester to assess client-side vulnerabilities.
Example:
Demonstrating a browser-based attack using 'BeEF'.
Ques 28. How do you use 'Ettercap' in Kali Linux for network sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks?
'Ettercap' is a comprehensive suite for man-in-the-middle attacks, enabling the interception and modification of network traffic.
Example:
Launching an ARP poisoning attack with 'Ettercap'.
Ques 29. How do you use 'John the Ripper' to crack Unix passwords?
Using 'John the Ripper' to crack Unix passwords involves providing the password hashes from the '/etc/shadow' file.
Example:
Cracking Unix password hashes: unshadow /etc/passwd /etc/shadow > passwordfile.txt
john passwordfile.txt
Most helpful rated by users:
- What is the default username and password in Kali Linux?
- How can you check the IP address in Kali Linux?
- How can you update Kali Linux?
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