10 things to do after installing Kali Linux
Kali Specific:
1. Fix Device not managed error – wired network
If you want NetworkManager to handle interfaces that are enabled in /etc/network/interfaces: Set managed=true in/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf. So this file looks like:
[main] plugins=ifupdown,keyfile [ifupdown] managed=true
Read the full article on fixing Wired Network interface “Device not managed” error in Debian or Kali Linux.
2. Fix default repository
The simplest way is to edit the /etc/apt/sources.list remove or comment every-line with # at the front and add the following lines..
leafpad /etc/apt/sources.list
Comment or remove existing config with the following lines:
Kali Linux 2.0 – Kali Sana users – Use the following Repo list:
# Regular repositories deb http://http.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib deb http://security.kali.org/kali-security sana/updates main contrib non-free # Source repositories deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali sana main non-free contrib deb-src http://security.kali.org/kali-security sana/updates main contrib non-free
Kali Linux 1.x users – you can keep using the repo below:
## Regular repositories deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali main non-free contrib deb http://security.kali.org/kali-security kali/updates main contrib non-free ## Source repositories deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali kali main non-free contrib deb-src http://security.kali.org/kali-security kali/updates main contrib non-free
Save and close the file.
Kali Linux 1.x details and explanations can be found in adding official Kali Linux 1.x Repositories page.
Kali Linux 2.x – Kali Sana details and explanations can be found in adding official Kali Linux 2.0 – Kali Sana Repositories page.
3. Update, Upgrade, Dist-Upgrade
Clean, update, upgrade and dist-upgrade your Kali installation.
apt-get clean && apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y && apt-get dist-upgrade -y
4. Fix PulseAudio warning
My Kali throws me this warning:
[warn] PulseAudio configured for per-user sessions ... (warning).
Debian variants also throws similar warning during boot.To fix this do the following:
leafpad /etc/default/pulseaudio
Find this line:
PULSEAUDIO_SYSTEM_START=0
Replace 0 with 1
PULSEAUDIO_SYSTEM_START=1
Where, 0 = don’t start in system mode, 1 = start in system mode
reboot
I am having second thoughts about this step, refer to the whole article below to know WHY! If you have a suggestion about it, leave that on that article so that I can sort through them and pick the best one.
Details and explanations can be found in Fixing PulseAudio configured for per-user sessions … (warning) in Kali Linux page.
5. Enable sound on Boot
Follow the steps below to fix sound mute in Kali Linux on boot
apt-get install alsa-utils -y
In GNOME Desktop (The default Kali Desktop)
Right Click on the small volume ICON and select Sound Preferences
Alternatively, you can also go to Applications > System Tools > Preferences > System Settings > Sound to bring up the same options.
Use the Output volume slider to ON, shown similar the screenshot above. That’s it you’re done. Close Sound window.
Details and explanations can be found in fixing sound mute in Kali Linux on boot page.
6. Install Java
Go to the following link and download jdk7. At the time of writing this guide the jdk version was jdk-7u45-linux-x64. Note that I’m using x64 which is 64-bit. 32-bit users should choose their versions accordingly. Not that tough really!
7. Install Flash
Just DON’T install Flash. Explanations coming soon.
8. Install File Roller – Archive Manager
Kali Linux lacks a proper GUI archive manager. Install it Archive Manager (File Roller) using the following command:
apt-get install unrar unace rar unrar p7zip zip unzip p7zip-full p7zip-rar file-roller -y
9. Add a standard user
Kali Linux got only root user by default. While most applications require root access, it’s always a good idea to add a second user. Open terminal and type following to create new user (replace user1 with your desired user name)
useradd -m user1
10. Add add-apt-repository
Debian allows users to add and use PPA repositories by an application named add-apt-repository however, Kali Linux didn’t include this in their default package list. With Kali, because this is a special purpose application and certain modifications were made to make it work for what it does best (Penetration Test). To enable PPA Repository via add-apt-repository application, follow the steps below: First install Python Software properties package.
apt-get install python-software-properties
apt-get install apt-file
apt-file update
apt-file search add-apt-repository
python-software-properties: /usr/bin/add-apt-repository
python-software-properties: /usr/share/man/man1/add-apt-repository.1.gz