Experience Kali Linux: Create a Live USB of Kali Linux

Are you interested in exploring the world of ethical hacking and cybersecurity? Look no further than Kali Linux, the premier operating system for penetration testing and security auditing. By creating a Kali Linux Live USB, you can easily and safely experiment with Kali Linux without committing to a full installation. In this guide, we will show you how to create a bootable Kali Linux Live USB in Windows, so you can dive into the world of ethical hacking and cybersecurity with ease.

Kali Linux is a popular and powerful penetration testing and ethical hacking operating system used by security professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. One of the best ways to experience Kali Linux without actually installing it on your computer is to create a Kali Linux Live USB drive. A Live USB allows you to boot Kali Linux from a USB drive, giving you the ability to explore its tools and features without affecting your system’s existing configuration. In this guide, I will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating a Kali Linux Live USB drive inside Windows, so you can take your Kali Linux experience with you wherever you go.

If you are using macOS then you can use this one (create a Live USB of Kali Linux inside macOS).

Create Kali Linux Live USB

From here on, you will follow these simple steps to create the Live USB.

Step 1: Download the Kali Linux ISO image

Before you can create a Kali Linux Live USB, you will need to download the Kali Linux ISO Image. You can choose between 32-bit or 64-bit versions depending on your computer’s architecture. Select and download the ISO file of Kali Linux from the server. You are recommended to use third-party applications like IDM (Internet Download Manager) for faster downloading.

Step 2: Prepare the USB drive

Insert a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space into your Windows PC. It is important to note that any data on the USB drive will be erased during this process, so make sure to back up any important data on the USB drive before proceeding.

Step 3: Download and Install Rufus

For the creation of Live USB, you will need to use a third-party tool called Rufus. Rufus is a free and open-source tool that allows you to create bootable USB drives from ISO images. You can download Rufus from the official website.

Don’t feel any kind of uncertain, as the Rufus is totally safe and free of cost.

Step 4: Run Rufus

Once you have downloaded it, you will run the program. You may need to grant administrative privileges to Rufus to run correctly.

Remember that Rufus doesn’t require any kind of installation, as you will use it directly.

Step 5: Select the USB Drive

In Rufus, select the USB drive you want to use as the destination for the Kali Linux Live USB. Rufus should automatically detect the USB drive that you inserted in step 2. If not, select the USB drive from the Device dropdown menu.

Step 6: Select the Kali Linux ISO image

Here you will select the downloaded ISO file of Kali Linux. Click the Select button next to Boot selection and browse to the location where you saved the Kali Linux ISO image.

Step 7: Choose the partition scheme

Choose the partition scheme as MBR for BIOS or GPT for UEFI. This will depend on the computer you want to boot the Kali Linux on.

Step 8: Create the Kali Linux Live USB

Click the Start button on Rufus to begin the process of creating a Live USB. Rufus will display a warning that all data on the USB drive will be erased. Make sure that you have backed up any important data on the USB drive before proceeding. Click on OK to continue.

Rufus will now format the USB drive and copy the Kali Linux ISO image to it. This process may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your computer and USB drive.

Step 9: Boot from the Kali Linux Live USB

Once Rufus has finished creating the Kali Linux Live USB, you can safely remove the USB drive from your computer.

Insert the Kali Linux Live USB into the computer you want to boot it on and restart the system. You may need to enter the BIOS setup and change the boot order to boot from the USB drive. This will depend on your computer’s manufacturer and model.

Step 10: Choose “Live system” from the Kali Linux boot menu

When the computer boots from the USB, you will be presented with a boot menu. Choose a Live system to boot into the Kali Linux Live environment. You can now explore Kali Linux and its tools without installing it on your computer.

That’s it! You have successfully created a Kali Linux Live USB and can use it to experiment with Kali Linux wherever you go.