In this article, we will see the main reasons for considering the use of Kali Linux in a virtualized environment and how it can boost your learning and work on cybersecurity tests.
Kali Linux is undoubtedly one of the most popular distributions for professionals and information security enthusiasts.
By choosing to run it inside a virtual machine, such as VirtualBox, you get a number of advantages that go beyond the simple installation of an operating system.
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1 Safe isolation
One of the biggest concerns of any security professional is to keep the main system protected against possible flaws or risks when performing scripts and tools that explore vulnerabilities.
By running Kali Linux inside VirtualBox, you create a barrier between the real system (host) and the virtual system (guest).
This increases the chances that any problems are contained in VM, reducing the impact on your main computer.
2 Controlled Environment
Performing Kali on a virtual machine offers a more controlled test environment.
You can choose network settings, available virtual hardware and have an extra layer of isolation.
Thus, it is possible to perform experiments or practice the execution of tools with lower risk of compromising their main operating system.
3 Powerful snapshots
The resource of snapshots from VirtualBox allows you to save the current state of your virtual machine.
If something goes wrong during a test or if you install any software that causes instability, just reverse to a previous snapshot in seconds.
This diminishes the need to reinstall the entire system, saving time and ensuring greater tranquility to perform experiments.
4 Total flexibility
In the virtual environment, you have the freedom to adjust settings less likely to cause irreversible problems.
Want to test a new security tool? Need to change the network configuration? All of this can be done easily, and if something does not work as expected, it can reverse to an earlier point.
5 Portability
One of the great advantages of working with VMs is the ability to move your testing environment from one computer to another without major complications.
You can copy the VM file to a pen drive or cloud and take it where you need it, keeping all your intact settings and tools.
6 Resource Management
When running Kali Linux within VirtualBox, it is possible to control precisely as CPU, RAM and disk space the virtual machine will use.
This avoids overloads and allows you to allocate resources according to the need for the moment, which is especially useful on computers with more limited resources.
7 Scenario Simulation
For cybersecurity and vulnerabilities tests, it is often necessary to simulate complex networks.
With VirtualBox, you can create various virtual machines (eg servers, workstations and target devices) and configure virtual networks to interconnect them.
Thus, it can reproduce scenarios very close to the actual production environments, increasing the effectiveness of its tests.
8 Continuous learning
Kali Linux is full of cybersecurity and safety analysis tools.
By using it in a virtual environment, you can learn gradually and with a security layer created by virtualization.
Some errors can be quickly corrected with snapshots, and can test different settings and tool versions by decreasing the likelihood of damaging your main system.
9 fast and easy to configure
The installation of Kali Linux on VirtualBox is very simple and requires just a few basic steps: Download the ISO image, create a new virtual machine, adjust the virtual hardware settings and start installation.
In a few minutes, you already have a ready -to -use functional machine.
10 Host protection
Finally, but not least, keeping Kali Linux confined to a virtual machine diminishes the likelihood of risking your physical computer with malicious software software actions.
This way, using a confined virtual environment can increase the chances of maintaining the integrity of your main operating system (host).
Conclusion
Using Kali Linux within VirtualBox is an almost mandatory practice for those who want to explore the possibilities of a safety laboratory as much as possible, with the benefit of preserving the stability and safety of the main system.
Isolation, snapshot features and ease of management make this combination an ideal choice for students, enthusiasts and information security professionals.
If you haven’t tried it yet, it is worth taking the first step and configuring your VM with Kali Linux. For sure, this approach will bring more peace of mind during learning, as well as enhancing your cyber security and research capacity.
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See more:
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Juliana Mascarenhas
Data Scientist and Master in Computer Modeling by LNCC.
Computer Engineer
