Kali Linux Commands are very useful if you are using the terminal in Linux Kali distribution. Kali Commands PDF is a very handy way to use Linux Kali Commands.
Kali Linux – two words combined together. This suggests a twofold activity. One is digital forensics and the other is penetration testing. It encompasses other activities such as Security Auditing and research, Computer Forensics and Reverse Engineering. The whole process is funded by Offensive Security Limited and is specifically designed to meet the security needs and audits. To describe in layman terms, Kali Linux is an operating system that was initially known as BackTrack. Though it is similar to other Linux based systems, it has a unique feature that is entirely different. It has free hacking tools that are most needed or used by black hat hackers. The security tools used are Armitage, Aircrack-ng, and Burp Suite and so on. In addition, the changes or updates made in Kali Linux are basically to fulfill specific needs such as:
- Single root user: Because of security concerns, many penetration tests need extra privileges and so single root user is considered a privilege.
- Disable network services: Kali Linux has unique system hooks that disable network services including Bluetooth.
- Minimal repositories: Since the integrity of the system has to be maintained at all cost, the upstream software sources set is kept at a minimum.
List of Kali Linux Commands from A to Z:
Here is the list of all top-level Linux Kali commands from letter A to Z in alphabetical order. You can also download the Kali Commands PDF by clicking the download button given below so it will be easier for you to access the next time you want it.
| Kali Linux commands | Function |
|---|---|
| A | |
| apropos | Search Help manual pages (man -k) |
| apt-get | Search for and install software packages (Debian) |
| aptitude | Search for and install software packages (Debian) |
| aspell | Spell Checker |
| awk | Find and Replace text, database sort/validate/index |
| B | |
| basename | Strip directory and suffix from filenames |
| bash | GNU Bourne-Again Shell |
| bc | Arbitrary precision calculator language |
| bg | Send to background |
| break | Exit from a loop |
| builtin | Run a shell builtin |
| bzip2 | Compress or decompress named files |
| C | |
| cal | Display a calendar |
| case | Conditionally perform a command |
| cat | Concatenate and print (display) the content of files |
| cd | Change Directory |
| cfdisk | Partition table manipulator for Linux |
| chgrp | Change group ownership |
| chmod | Change access permissions |
| chown | Change file owner and group |
| chroot | Run a command with a different root directory |
| chkconfig | System services (runlevel) |
| cksum | Print CRC checksum and byte counts |
| clear | Clear terminal screen |
| cmp | Compare two files |
| comm | Compare two sorted files line by line |
| command | Run a command – ignoring shell functions |
| continue | Resume the next iteration of a loop |
| cp | Copy one or more files to another location |
| cron | Daemon to execute scheduled commands |
| crontab | Schedule a command to run at a later time |
| csplit | Split a file into context-determined pieces |
| cut | Divide a file into several parts |
| D | |
| date | Display or change the date and time |
| dc | Desk Calculator |
| dd | Convert and copy a file, write disk headers, boot records |
| ddrescue | Data recovery tool |
| declare | Declare variables and give them attributes |
| df | Display free disk space |
| diff | Display the differences between two files |
| diff3 | Show differences among three files |
| dig | DNS lookup |
| dir | Briefly list directory contents |
| dircolors | Colour setup for `ls’ |
| dirname | Convert a full pathname to just a path |
| dirs | Display list of remembered directories |
| dmesg | Print kernel & driver messages |
| du | Estimate file space usage |
| E | |
| echo | Display message on screen |
| egrep | Search files for lines that match an extended expression |
| eject | Eject removable media |
| enable | Enable and disable builtin shell commands |
| env | Environment variables |
| ethtool | Ethernet card settings |
| eval | Evaluate several commands/arguments |
| exec | Execute a command |
| exit | Exit the shell |
| expect | Automate arbitrary applications accessed over a terminal |
| expand | Convert tabs to spaces |
| export | Set an environment variable |
| expr | Evaluate expressions |
| F | |
| false | Do nothing, unsuccessfully |
| fdformat | Low-level format a floppy disk |
| fdisk | Partition table manipulator for Linux |
| fg | Send job to foreground |
| fgrep | Search files for lines that match a fixed string |
| file | Determine file type |
| find | Search for files that meet a desired criteria |
| fmt | Reformat paragraph text |
| fold | Wrap text to fit a specified width |
| for | Expand words, and execute commands |
| format | Format disks or tapes |
| free | Display memory usage |
| fsck | File system consistency check and repair |
| ftp | File Transfer Protocol |
| function | Define Function Macros |
| fuser | Identify/kill the process that is accessing a file |
| G | |
| gawk | Find and Replace text within files |
| getopts | Parse positional parameters |
| grep | Search files for lines that match a given pattern |
| groupadd | Add a user security group |
| groupdel | Delete a group |
| groupmod | Modify a group |
| groups | Print group names a user is in |
| gzip | Compress or decompress named files |
| H | |
| hash | Remember the full pathname of a name argument |
| head | Output the first part of files |
| help | Display help for a built-in command |
| history | Command History |
| hostname | Print or set system name |
| I | |
| iconv | Convert the character set of a file |
| id | Print user and group id’s |
| if | Conditionally perform a command |
| ifconfig | Configure a network interface |
| ifdown | Stop a network interface |
| ifup | Start a network interface up |
| import | Capture an X server screen and save the image to file |
| install | Copy files and set attributes |
| J | |
| jobs | List active jobs |
| join | Join lines on a common field |
| K | |
| kill | Stop a process from running |
| killall | Kill processes by name |
| L | |
| less | Display output one screen at a time |
| let | Perform arithmetic on shell variables |
| ln | Create a symbolic link to a file |
| local | Create variables |
| locate | Find files (Linux Kali Commands) |
| logname | Print current login name |
| logout | Exit a login shell |
| look | Display lines beginning with a given string |
| lpc | Line printer control program |
| lpr | Off line print |
| lprint | Print a file |
| lprintd | Abort a print job |
| lprintq | List the print queue |
| lprm | Remove jobs from the print queue |
| ls | List information about files |
| lsof | List open files |
| M | |
| make | Recompile a group of programs |
| man | Help manual |
| mkdir | Create new folders |
| mkfifo | Make FIFOs (named pipes) |
| mkisofs | Create an hybrid ISO9660/JOLIET/HFS filesystem |
| mknod | Make block or character special files |
| more | Display output one screen at a time |
| mount | Mount a file system |
| mtools | Manipulate MS-DOS files |
| mtr | Network diagnostics (traceroute/ping) |
| mv | Move or rename files or directories |
| mmv | Mass Move and rename files |
| N | |
| netstat | Networking information |
| nice | Set the priority of a command or job |
| nl | Number lines and write files |
| nohup | Run a command immune to hangups |
| notify-send | Send desktop notifications |
| nslookup | Query Internet name servers interactively |
| O | |
| open | Open a file in its default application |
| op | Operator access |
| P | |
| passwd | Modify a user password |
| paste | Merge lines of files |
| pathchk | Check file name portability |
| ping | Test a network connection |
| pkill | Stop processes from running |
| popd | Restore the previous value of the current directory |
| pr | Prepare files for printing |
| printcap | Printer capability database |
| printenv | Print environment variables |
| printf | Format and print data |
| ps | Process status |
| pushd | Save and then change the current directory |
| pwd | Print Working Directory |
| Q | |
| quota | Display disk usage and limits |
| quotacheck | Scan a file system for disk usage |
| quotactl | Set disk quotas |
| R | |
| ram | ram disk device |
| rcp | Copy files between two machines |
| read | Read a line from standard input |
| readarray | Read from stdin into an array variable |
| readonly | Mark variables/functions as readonly |
| reboot | Reboot the system |
| rename | Rename files |
| renice | Alter priority of running processes |
| remsync | Synchronize remote files via email |
| return | Exit a shell function |
| rev | Reverse lines of a file |
| rm | Remove files |
| rmdir | Remove folders |
| rsync | Remote file copy (Synchronize file trees) |
| S | |
| screen | Multiplex terminal, run remote shells via ssh |
| scp | Secure copy (remote file copy) |
| sdiff | Merge two files interactively |
| sed | Stream Editor |
| select | Accept keyboard input |
| seq | Print numeric sequences |
| set | Manipulate shell variables and functions |
| sftp | Secure File Transfer Program |
| shift | Shift positional parameters |
| shopt | Shell Options |
| shutdown | Shutdown or restart linux |
| sleep | Delay for a specified time |
| slocate | Find files |
| sort | Sort text files |
| source | Run commands from a file |
| split | Split a file into fixed-size pieces |
| ssh | Secure Shell client (remote login program) |
| strace | Trace system calls and signals |
| su | Substitute user identity |
| sudo | Execute a command as another user |
| sum | Print a checksum for a file |
| suspend | Suspend execution of this shell |
| symlink | Make a new name for a file |
| sync | Synchronize data on disk with memory |
| T | |
| tail | Output the last part of file |
| tar | Tape Archiver |
| tee | Redirect output to multiple files |
| test | Evaluate a conditional expression |
| time | Measure Program running time |
| times | User and system times |
| touch | Change file timestamps |
| top | List processes running on the system |
| traceroute | Trace Route to Host |
| trap | Run a command when a signal is set(bourne) |
| tr | Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters |
| true | Do nothing, successfully |
| tsort | Topological sort |
| tty | Print filename of terminal on stdin |
| type | Describe a command |
| U | |
| ulimit | Limit user resources |
| umask | Users file creation mask |
| umount | Unmount a device |
| unalias | Remove an alias |
| uname | Print system information |
| unexpand | Convert spaces to tabs |
| uniq | Uniquify files (Kali Linux Commands) |
| units | Convert units from one scale to another |
| unset | Remove variable or function names |
| unshar | Unpack shell archive scripts |
| until | Execute commands (until error) |
| uptime | Show uptime |
| useradd | Create new user account |
| usermod | Modify user account |
| users | List users currently logged in |
| uuencode | Encode a binary file |
| uudecode | Decode a file created by uuencode |
| V | |
| v | Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b’) |
| vdir | Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b’) |
| vi | Text Editor |
| vmstat | Report virtual memory statistics |
| W | |
| wait | Wait for a process to complete |
| watch | Execute/display a program periodically |
| wc | Print byte, word, and line counts |
| whereis | Search the user’s $path, man pages and source files for a program |
| which | Search the user’s $path for a program file |
| while | Execute commands |
| who | Print all usernames currently logged in |
| whoami | Print the current user id and name (`id -un’) |
| wget | Retrieve web pages or files via HTTP, HTTPS or FTP |
| write | Send a message to another user |
| X | |
| xargs | Execute utility, passing constructed argument lists |
| xdg-open | Open a file or URL in the user’s preferred application |
| Y | |
| yes | Print a string until interrupted |
Linux Kali Commands
The best and easiest way to use Kali Linux is by using commands. There are many commands to remember so many new users might find it difficult to remember or learn them. One good point is that since the system is similar to other Linux operating systems, the basic commands are quite similar as well. The advanced commands are of course top-notch. This article will cover some of the basic and advanced commands. The commands can be divided into two main categories.
System Commands
This is the name itself denotes are used for system administration and are useful for managing the Kali Linux operating system. The commands are similar to the ones used in Mint, RHEL, and Ubuntu.
Some of them which make it on the list of the SYSTEM COMMANDS are :
- history command: This gives details about the running commands used recently. The Code is $history
- Free command: This shows the total, free and the swap memory information that is the memory used till and now and how much is still available. The code is $free
- sort command: as the name itself signifies the lines of text files can be sorted in ascending order or descending order. The code for ascending order is $sort filename.txt and for descending order it is $sort –r filename.txt
Then there is the System Advanced Commands in Kali Linux Commands:
- Find command: In order to find a file by name, size is very difficult in Linux. So this command is useful as it helps the user to search for files based on user given expression and user-specified action.
- The unzip command: Most of the big files downloaded are in zip format. This command will help in unzipping or extracting the files. The basic syntax is #unzip file name.zip
- The SCP command: This is used for copying files from one device to another device. The noteworthy feature is that is copies files over ssh protocol. Hackers use this command to compromise the system and transfer files.
- Other commands which are available are the Cron command which is a daemon for executing scheduled commands. The fgrep command searches for files that meet specific criteria. And last of all, of course, is the help command which displays all the built-in commands.
Tool or basic commands
Basic commands are very simple and can be tried out by new users. To spell out a few commands, ls stands for list directory, Nmap means network mapper (for scanning open ports, OS detection), lsblk means list block devices. Noteworthy commands are apt-get. This updates a Debian machine and is used for installing Debian packages and programs. The Sudo command is used for executing a command as root user and the Chroot command allows for a command to run with a different root directory.
There are other simple commands which are enumerated below:
- date command: This is used for checking the current time and date. It involves using the # hashtag and $ sign. This date can be changed by using the following code: $ date-set=’new date’
- cal command: This is for displaying the calendar. The code is $cal
- whoami command: This is used to find out the user name by which you have logged into. The code is $whoami
- pwd command: This is to know on what location you are working on that is the directory and subdirectory details.
- is command: this is used for knowing the files and folders inside a directory. The code is $Is
- cd command: this is for changing the directory. The code is $cd
- mkdir command: this is used for creating a directory. The code is $mkdir. However, if a directory is needed in a particular location, then it has to be specified in the code. For instance, the code will then have to be $mkdir/desired location/directoryname
- cp command: This command is used to copy files and folders. It is actually a big command.
So with the use of a few simple commands, websites and wireless networks can be hacked. Not only that tasks can be automated and software programs can be installed. In addition, the creation of additional user accounts, optimization of terminal interactions, the configuration of software, etc. can be done with just a few of these commands.
Final Verdict
With this article, it is hoped that most of the useful commands are covered and so Kali Linux can be used to the maximum. There is no fixed list of commands. They are based on the user needs and therefore have not been numbered in this article. Some users might prefer or use only certain commands whereas others might prefer some other commands. So a right mix of different commands have been included in this article and so hope that you find them useful.