You can carry the Kali Linux desktop around with you, thanks to the Kali NetHunter Desktop Experience or Kali NetHunter KeX. We will walk you through all of the important features of NetHunter KeX in this article, including installation, configuration, and its uses in security assessments and ethical hacking. But before we get started, let’s have a brief introduction of what Kali NetHunter is.
What is Kali NetHunter?
Kali NetHunter is a powerful open-source mobile penetration testing platform designed for Android devices. It is an extension of the popular Kali Linux distribution, which is widely used by security professionals and ethical hackers for various security testing and assessments. NetHunter is a flexible and easily accessible tool for security enthusiasts and pros on the go because it takes the powerful tools and capabilities of Kali Linux and adapts them for usage on mobile devices.
Kali NetHunter’s compatibility with a large variety of Android devices, including smartphones and tablets, is one of its most notable features. Users can install Kali NetHunter as a custom ROM or through a chroot environment, allowing them to harness the power of Kali Linux tools right on their Android devices. Security professionals can use this mobility to conduct network analysis, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning in a variety of settings, such as field assessments and real-time security evaluations.
What is NetHunter KeX?
An essential part of the Kali NetHunter platform, Kali NetHunter KeX enables users to access Kali Linux Desktop on their Android devices. With this feature, Kali Linux tools are now mobile-friendly, making them a flexible resource for security experts and ethical hackers alike.
For mobile penetration testing, NetHunter KeX is essential. Experts in the field of security can do numerous security audits, carry out ethical hacking, and evaluate network vulnerabilities while they’re on the move. You can carry Kali Linux with you everywhere you go and be prepared to handle security challenges with NetHunter KeX.
Benefits of Using NetHunter KeX
The benefits of using NetHunter KeX are numerous and are briefly listed below:
- Portability: Security assessments can be completed from anywhere, so a laptop or desktop computer is not necessary.
- Accessibility: Use your Android device to access a variety of Kali Linux tools, making sure you have the appropriate tool for the job.
- Comprehensive Testing: With NetHunter KeX, you can easily integrate Kali Linux tools and have a wide range of choices for security investigation and testing.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
To set up NetHunter KeX, follow these steps:
1. Download the NetHunter KeX App
Start by downloading the NetHunter KeX app from the official Kali NetHunter repository. Search for “NetHunter KeX” and install the application on your device. You may also use this link to go to the download page directly.
Note: You may first need to download and install the NetHunter Store app from here and NetHunter app from here.
2. Start the KeX Manager
Open the NetHunter app that you installed in step 1 (Not the “NetHunter KeX” or “NetHunter Store”). Tap on the hamburger menu at the top and then tap on “KeX Manager”. It will open the KeX Manager where you can start and stop the KeX service, open the KeX client and configure advanced settings.
3. Setup KeX
If you are starting KeX server for the first time then you first need to configure a VNC server password and a view-only password (this one is optional and you may safely skip this). Tap on the button “SETUP LOCAL SERVER”. A window will appear asking for a new VNC server password. Type a strong password that you can remember and then hit enter. After hitting enter it will ask to verify the password, type in the same password once more and hit enter again. You will now be asked whether you would like to enter a view-only password. You can safely type ‘n’ to skip it or ‘y’ to enter a view-only password and verify it.
4. Start KeX
To start KeX, tap on the button “START SERVER” on the main screen of KeX Manager.
5. Launch the KeX Client
After starting the KeX server we have to launch the KeX client. In order to do so tap on the button “OPEN KEX CLIENT” on the main screen of KeX Manager. If you are connecting for the first time you need to enter the password in the password field (the VNC server password that you configured in step 3 when setting up the server). Finally, tap on the “Connect” button at the top. If you have setup everything correctly so far, you will see the full Kali desktop on your screen.
6. Using KeX Controls
If you tap anywhere on the kali desktop it will display the on-screen-controls for 2 seconds, which allow you to open the on-screen keyboard, the context menu to configure the KeX session and move the on-screen-controls to wherever you find it comfortable.
6. Avanced KeX Settings
In order to tweak the advanced KeX settings and display resolution settings, tap on the “SHOW ADVANCED SETTINGS” button on the main screen of KeX Manager. Here you will find the options to change display resolution. To make sure that the Kali Linux desktop environment appears as best it can on your Android screen, adjust the display settings. You can significantly improve your experience by adjusting the screen orientation and resolution.
Exploring NetHunter KeX Features
With its ability to deliver the extensive features of Kali Linux right to your Android device, Kali NetHunter KeX is a versatile and powerful tool that is redefining the field of mobile penetration testing. NetHunter KeX’s wide array of integrated Kali Linux tools is one of the main features that sets it apart.
It easily incorporates a large number of Kali Linux utilities, each of which is intended for a particular purpose in ethical hacking and security testing. With NetHunter KeX, you have easy access to an extensive toolkit, including Wireshark for network analysis and Aircrack-ng for wireless security evaluations, all from your Android device. NetHunter KeX makes sure you have the appropriate tool for the job, whether you’re evaluating web application vulnerabilities, doing wireless network penetration testing, or monitoring network traffic.
NetHunter KeX has many useful and significant uses. You can use this tool for a variety of security testing scenarios as an ethical hacker or security practitioner. You can use it, for example, to test the security of your personal network, find holes in the infrastructure of your company, or conduct ethical hacking evaluations for customers. For security professionals who are constantly on the go, its mobility makes it possible to react quickly to security threats.
NetHunter KeX makes it easier to carry out network reconnaissance, exploit vulnerabilities, and assess system vulnerabilities by allowing you to undertake thorough penetration testing directly from your Android mobile. Because of the tool’s mobility, you may do security assessments in a variety of situations while still being able to identify and address security threats effectively.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve highlighted the significance of Kali NetHunter KeX in the world of mobile penetration testing and ethical hacking and have shown you how to set it up in a step by step manner. If you’re passionate about security testing and mobile penetration testing, it’s time to set up and test the NetHunter KeX. With the ability to access Kali Linux desktop on your Android device, you’ll have a powerful tool at your disposal for enhancing security and conducting ethical hacking tasks.
