Kali Linux can run natively when installed on a PC, can be booted from a live CD or live USB, or it can run within a virtual machine. This was primarily added because the development team found they needed to do a lot of wireless assessments. Kali also has a custom-built kernel that is patched for injection. Kali Linux is developed in a secure location with only a small number of trusted people that are allowed to commit packages, with each package being signed by the developer. Kali Linux is preinstalled with over 600 penetration-testing programs, including nmap (a port scanner), Wireshark (a packet analyzer), John the Ripper (a password cracker), Aircrack-ng (a software suite for penetration-testing wireless LANs), Burp suite and OWASP ZAP (both web application security scanners).

Kali Linux became mainstream popular thanks to the TV Series Mr. Kali is a popular distro among the security community due to its design, it incorporates tools oriented towards penetration testing, security research, computer forensics and reverse engineering.

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