In the history of Kali and its predecessors BackTrack, WHAX, and Whoppix, the default credentials was root/toor. However, now it is no more. Currently, Kali is not using the superuser account root as a default. As it has released Kali Linux 2020.1 with all new tools, adds Non-Root by Default and NetHunter Rootless Edition. This is a huge change in the history of Kali predecessors.
Kali Linux 2020.1 Released With New Tools And Features
Kali Linux 2020.1 has released with all new tools and has got improvements to the themes and Kali undercover, adds, Non-root by default. The Kali Linux 2020.1 allows the hackers to use NetHunter without rooting their devices. It also announced NetHunter Rootless Edition.
Kali Linux 2020.1
Kali Linux team announced about the move at Offensive Security, said, “traditional default non-root user” model, will now change to version 2020.1. Earlier Kali got the default root policy from its predecessors. However, from now Kali 2020.1 is not a superuser account, and the default user is now a standard, unprivileged, user.
This big change was done because of security reasons. After the change, there is no more root/toor it will be kali/kali.
Another important change is the Single Installer Image. Now, Kali will not offer images for every desktop environment (DE). Instead of this, now it will provide one image and will ask you to choose your desktop environment.
This newly released edition will allow the user to select the tools which should be included with the installation. It needs an internet connection to install a custom image, only Xfce and default packages don’t need internet. If you want to use live mode, then you need a live image, and with the installer image, the live mode is not there.
ARM images for 2020.1 will run as root by default, but in Pinebook Pro it is not there in 2020.1. The post says, “we are still working on getting it added, as soon as it is ready post will be there”.
NetHunter Rootless
Even the mobile pentesting comes with new improvements. One of the best changes is you don’t need to root your phone to run Kali NetHunter on your device.
Check out the three NetHunter Editions:
- NetHunter: It needs rooted devices with custom recovery and patched kernel, which has no restrictions.
- NetHunter Light: This edition needs rooted devices with custom recovery only. There are few restrictions available like no Wifi or HID support.
- NetHunter Rootless: This can be installed on all stock standard and unmodified devices by using Termux. There are few limitations like lack of DB support in Metasploit, and this does not need a rooted device.
Kali users don’t need to wait for the “next release” for new updates. In this new release, the team has added a few new tools which are the best one.