Persistent Bootable Kali Linux to USB Pen/Hard Drive

Creating a bootable Kali Linux USB drive using Rufus is a straightforward process that allows you to run Kali Linux on any compatible computer without installing it on the hard drive. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to prepare your USB drive and load it with Kali Linux using Rufus.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, you’ll need a few things:

  • A USB drive with at least 8GB of storage.
  • A computer with internet access to download Kali Linux and Rufus.
  • The Kali Linux ISO file, which can be downloaded from the official Kali Linux website (https://www.kali.org/get-kali/#kali-bare-metal).
  • Rufus, a free and open-source portable application for Microsoft Windows to create bootable USB drives. Download Rufus from its official website (https://rufus.ie/).

Step 1: Prepare Your USB Drive

  1. Insert the USB drive into your computer. Ensure that there is no important data on the USB drive, as the process will erase all existing data.
  2. Open Rufus. It should automatically detect your USB drive. If you have multiple drives connected, make sure you select the correct one from the “Device” dropdown menu.

Step 2: Select the Kali Linux ISO

  1. In Rufus, click on the “Select” button near the “Boot selection” section.
  2. Navigate to the location where you downloaded the Kali Linux ISO file, select it, and click “Open.”

Step 3: Configure Rufus Settings

  1. Under “Image option,” choose “Write in DD Image mode” to make the USB bootable.
  2. In the “Partition scheme” dropdown, select “MBR” if you’re going to use the USB on a BIOS system or “GPT” for UEFI systems. If you’re unsure, MBR is a safe choice for compatibility with both systems.
  3. Leave the “File system” and “Cluster size” options to their default values.
  4. You can label your USB drive under “Volume label” for easy identification. Something like “KALI LINUX” would be appropriate.

Step 4: Start the Process

  1. Once you’ve configured all the settings, click the “Start” button in Rufus.
  2. A warning message will appear, indicating that all data on the USB drive will be destroyed. Confirm that you want to proceed by clicking “OK.”

Step 5: Boot from USB

  1. After Rufus completes the process, safely eject the USB drive from your computer.
  2. Insert the USB drive into the computer where you want to run Kali Linux. You might need to access the boot menu or modify the BIOS/UEFI settings to boot from the USB drive. This usually involves pressing a key like F12, F2, Esc, or Del during the boot process, but it varies by manufacturer.

Step 6: Enjoy Kali Linux

  1. Once you boot from the USB drive, you should see the Kali Linux boot menu. From here, you can choose to run Kali live, install it, or perform various other tasks without affecting the host computer’s hard drive.

Remember, running Kali Linux from a USB drive can be slower than running it from a hard drive due to USB read/write speed limitations. However, it’s an excellent way to use Kali Linux for testing and security assessments without making permanent changes to your computer.

That’s it! You now have a portable, bootable Kali Linux USB drive created using Rufus, ready to use on any compatible computer.