BackTrack
Linux distribution
BackTrack was a Linux distribution that focused on security, based on the Knoppix Linux distribution aimed at digital forensics and penetration test use. In March 2013, the Offensive Security team rebuilt BackTrack around the Debian distribution and released it under the name Kali Linux.
01History
The BackTrack distribution originated from the merger of two formerly competing distributions which focused on penetration testing:
- WHAX: a Slax-based Linux distribution developed by Mati Aharoni, a security consultant. Earlier versions of WHAX were called Whoppix and were based on Knoppix.
- Auditor Security Collection: a Live CD based on Knoppix developed by Max Moser which included over 300 tools organized in a user-friendly hierarchy.
On January 9, 2010, BackTrack 4 improved hardware support, and added official FluxBox support. The overlap with Auditor and WHAX in purpose and in collection of tools partly led to the merger. The overlap came about as Backtrack 5, released on May 10, 2011. This version also seen the base OS changed from Slackware to Ubuntu.
02Tools
BackTrack provided users with easy access to a comprehensive and large collection of security-related tools ranging from port scanners to Security Audit. Support for Live CD and Live USB functionality allowed users to boot BackTrack directly from portable media without requiring installation, though permanent installation to hard disk and network was also an option.
BackTrack included many well known security tools including:
- Metasploit for integration
- Wi-Fi drivers supporting monitor mode (rfmon mode) and packet injection
- Aircrack-ng
- Reaver, a tool used to exploit a vulnerability in WPS
- Gerix Wifi Cracker
- Kismet
- Nmap
- Ophcrack
- Ettercap
- Wireshark (formerly known as Ethereal)
- BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework)
- Hydra
- OWASP Mantra Security Framework, a collection of hacking tools, add-ons and scripts based on Firefox
- Cisco OCS Mass Scanner, a very reliable and fast scanner for Cisco routers to test default telnet and enabling password.
- A large collection of exploits as well as more commonplace software such as browsers.
- Armitage - java-based front-end to Metasploit.
BackTrack arranged tools into 12 categories:
- Information gathering
- Vulnerability assessment
- Exploitation tools
- Privilege escalation
- Maintaining access
- Reverse engineering
- RFID tools
- Stress testing
- Forensics
- Reporting tools
- Services
- Miscellaneous
03Releases
| Date | Release |
|---|---|
| May 26, 2006 | First stable release of BackTrack based on Slackware |
| October 13, 2006 | BackTrack 2 beta #1 released |
| November 19, 2006 | BackTrack 2 beta #2 released |
| March 6, 2007 | BackTrack 2 final released |
| December 14, 2007 | BackTrack 3 beta released |
| June 19, 2008 | BackTrack 3 final released (Linux kernel 2.6.21.5) |
| February 11, 2009 | BackTrack 4 beta released |
| January 9, 2010 | BackTrack 4 final release (Linux kernel 2.6.30.9 and base OS changed to Ubuntu) |
| May 8, 2010 | BackTrack 4 R1 release |
| November 22, 2010 | BackTrack 4 R2 release |
| May 10, 2011 | BackTrack 5 release (Linux kernel 2.6.38) |
| August 18, 2011 | BackTrack 5 R1 release (Linux kernel 2.6.39.5) |
| March 1, 2012 | BackTrack 5 R2 release (Linux kernel 3.2.6) |
| August 13, 2012 | BackTrack 5 R3 release |
Whenever a new version of BackTrack was released, older versions would lose their support and service from the BackTrack development team. There are currently no supported versions of BackTrack.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “BackTrack”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- BackTrack 5 R1.png by Unknown author, GPL
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