Create Kali Linux Live USB on macOS

Creating a Kali Linux Live USB inside macOS can be a valuable tool for anyone interested in cybersecurity and ethical hacking. You are here to create Kali Linux Live USB inside macOS and that is what we are going to do.

Incredible Benefits of Creating a Kali Linux Live USB

There are numerous benefits of Live USB of Kali Linux and here are some of them:

Experimentation: Creating a Live USB allows you to experiment with Kali Linux without installing it on your Mac. This way, you can test different features and tools without the risk of affecting your existing operating system.

Portability: A Kali Linux Live USB is a portable operating system that can be used on any computer that supports booting from USB. This means you can use Kali Linux on different devices without having to install it on each one.

Security Testing: Kali Linux is a popular tool among ethical hackers and cybersecurity professionals for testing the security of computer systems and networks. By creating a Kali Linux Live USB, you can perform security tests on different systems without leaving any traces on the host system.

Learning Opportunity: Kali Linux is a powerful tool for learning about cybersecurity and ethical hacking. By creating a Kali Linux Live USB, you can explore different features and tools in a safe and controlled environment, and learn about how they can be used to protect against cyber threats.

Related: Create a Live USB of Kali Linux inside Windows

A Comprehensive Guide to Create Kali Linux Live USB

Sure, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a Kali Linux Live USB on macOS:

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: Insert the USB drive

The second step is to prepare your trusty USB drive. Make sure it’s at least 8GB and ready to be transformed into a powerful tool for hacking and cybersecurity. Keep in mind that any data currently on the drive will be sacrificed for the greater good, so be sure to give it a proper farewell and back up any crucial files.

Step 3: Open the Terminal

Open the Terminal application on your Mac. You can find the Terminal app in the Utilities folder, which is located in the Applications folder.

• Click on the Finder icon in your Dock, which is typically located at the bottom of your screen.
• From the Finder menu bar at the top of your screen, click on Go and then select Utilities.
• In the Utilities folder, find and double-click on Terminal to launch it.

Step 4: Identify the USB drive

In the Terminal, type the command “diskutil list” and press Enter. This will display a list of all the drives connected to your Mac. Identify the USB drive by its name or capacity. Note the disk identifier of the USB drive, which will be in the format “diskX“, where X is a number.

Step 5: Unmount the USB drive

In the Terminal, type the command “diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX” and press Enter. Replace “diskX” with the disk identifier of the USB drive you identified in step 4. This will unmount the USB drive so that it can be written to.

Step 6: Convert the Kali Linux ISO to an IMG file

In the Terminal, type the command:

hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o /path/to/kali-linux-2023.1-amd64.iso /path/to/kali-linux-2023.1-amd64.img

And press Enter. Don’t forget to replace “/path/to/kali-linux-2023.1-amd64.iso” with the actual path to the Kali Linux ISO image that you downloaded in step 1, and “/path/to/kali-linux-2023.1-amd64.img” with the desired path and filename for the resulting IMG file. This will convert the Kali Linux ISO image to an IMG file that can be written to the USB drive.

Step 7: Write the IMG file to the USB drive

In the Terminal, type the command below and press Enter.

sudo dd if=/path/to/kali-linux-2023.1-amd64.img of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m

Replace “/path/to/kali-linux-2023.1-amd64.img” with the actual path and filename of the IMG file you created in step 6, and “/dev/rdiskX” with the device name of the USB drive (note the “r” in “rdiskX”). This will write the IMG file to the USB drive. This process may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your computer and USB drive.

Step 8: Eject the USB drive

In the Terminal, type the command “diskutil eject /dev/diskX” and press Enter.

Replace “diskX” with the disk identifier of the USB drive you identified in step 4. This will eject the USB drive so that it can be safely removed from your Mac.

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