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Imagine using Kali Linux, your favorite penetration testing operating system, in public. You don’t want someone giving you strange looks while you perform a network scan through the terminal, do you?
Offensive Security, the company that runs Kali Linux, has developed a quick solution for this. Kali’s secret mode can change the look of your desktop, making it look like a traditional Windows system, one that most people are familiar with.
In this article, you will learn more about Kali Undercover, how to use it, and the steps to install it on your Linux system.
What is Kali Undercover?
As mentioned above, Kali Undercover is a set of scripts that changes the appearance of the default Xfce desktop in Kali Linux. The script applies a Windows-like theme to the system to prevent unwanted attention when working in public.
Switching to infiltration mode is easy. Just open the terminal and type:
kali-undercoverThe transition will begin when the script begins to change the fonts, icon pack, and screen layout. It takes just five seconds for the script to switch from Xfce to the “fake” Windows desktop.
Type kali-undercover in the terminal to return to the default desktop environment.
Why use Kali Undercover?
The main intention behind the development of kali-undercover was to allow cybersecurity professionals to work comfortably in public places.
An important part of a penetration tester’s job is to find potential vulnerabilities by hacking into their client’s network. It requires discretion and the fact that random people take a peek at Kali’s suspicious office environment is just going to affect their work.
This is where Kali Undercover comes in. You can quickly switch between the two desktops to hide the operating system you are using. Although if someone takes a closer look at the desktop, they will probably realize that it is not Windows.
How to install Kali Undercover on Linux
The kali-undercover script is preinstalled on Kali Linux. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of secret mode when using other Linux distributions. Anyone can install the script on their system, as long as they are using the Xfce desktop environment.
Install Kali Undercover on Debian / Ubuntu
If you are using a Debian based operating system like Ubuntu or Linux Mint, you just need to download the kali-undercover DEB package from the official Kali repository.
To download: Kali undercover
Then proceed to Downloads directory using the cd command.
cd /DownloadsInstall the kali-undercover DEB package using dpkg as follows:
sudo dpkg -i kali-undercover_x.x.x_all.debAlternatively, you can also install the package graphically by running the downloaded file. On Ubuntu, double clicking on the file will open the software installation window. You can then click on To install to install the script.
Install the script on other Linux distributions
On other Linux distributions, you can download the script using its git repository:
git clone https://gitlab.com/kalilinux/packages/kali-undercoverNavigate to the newly created folder using cd:
cd kali-undercoverCopy the files inside the to share folder to / usr / phone book. This folder contains all the items related to the Windows theme, such as icons, font packs, and wallpaper.
sudo cp -r share /usrFinally, copy the kali-undercover binary file at / usr / bin folder as follows:
sudo cp /bin/kali-undercover /usr/binRemove the script from the system
If you ever want to remove the script from your system, simply delete all files associated with kali-undercover using rm. To start, delete the binary file from the / usr / bin phone book:
sudo rm /usr/bin/kali-undercoverThen remove the Windows icons and themes:
sudo rm -r /usr/share/icons/Windows-10-Icons
sudo rm -r /usr/share/themes/Windows-10Finally, delete the desktop file and the kali-undercover to share folder using rm:
sudo rm /usr/share/applications/kali-undercover.desktop
sudo rm -r /usr/share/kali-undercoverStay undercover with Kali Linux
In addition to Kali Undercover, the operating system comes with a myriad of scripts and command line tools. You can rest assured that Kali Linux has everything you want when it comes to network scanning, vulnerability detection, digital forensics, or anything else related to cybersecurity.
If you haven’t yet decided to make the switch, consider installing Kali Linux on a hypervisor first. Virtual machine software like VirtualBox provides the best experience without compromising machine performance.
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