Kali Linux 2020.4 Released: 6 New Features For Ethical Hackers

After Kali Linux 2020.1, 2020.2, and 2020.3, Offensive Security has announced a new Kali Linux 2020.4. It’s the fourth and final release of the 2020 series packed with some amazing features for ethical hackers.

Kali Linux 2020.4: What’s New?

1. ZSH as default shell

As introduced and planned in the previous release, the ZSH shell (or Z Shell) has finally replaced BASH (Bourne Again Shell) as the default command-line shell in the new Kali Linux 2020.4 for desktop and cloud.

However, Bash is still a default shell for other platform images such as ARM, containers, NetHunter, and WSL, which might also be replaced with ZSH in the upcoming release.

2. Bash Prompt Theme Touch-ups

To bring uniformity in the cross-shell theme, Kali Linux has also tweaked the appearance of the Bash prompt, which now looks similar to the ZSH prompt in terms of design, not in functions.

3. AWS Cloud Image Update

With v2020.4, Kali Linux has introduced and included a new metapackage called kali-linux-headless for AWS Cloud image. It brings all default set of command-line tools.

In addition, Kali Linux is now a part of Amazon GovCloud and has a new marketplace entry. If you want the latest Kali version using the latest instance on your old entry, you need to switch to a new entry.

4. CrackMapExec (CME) Tool

If you’re already know and using CrackMapExec (CME) tool, then you will be excited to hear that Kali has officially partnered with its author byt3bl33d3r.

This simply means all Kali Linux users will get access to the newest changes in CME before it is made public to everyone else as the Kali package of CME will pull updates directly from its private codebase.

5. Win-KeX For Windows on ARM Devices

As Win-KeX package aims to improve the Windows plus Kali Desktop Experience, its latest version 2.5 now offers a new “Enhanced Session Mode (–esm).”

This mode works similar to “Window” mode but uses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and client native to Windows. Hence, it also allows users of “Windows on ARM” devices to use Win-KeX.

6. Other Tools Updates

Among other new software for ethical hackers, Kali Linux 2020.4 has upgraded Linux kernel to its latest stable version 5.9, GNOME and KDE desktop to 3.38, and 5.19 respectively.

Along with updates, it has also added eight new tools:

• Apple bleee
• CertGraph
• dnscat2
• FinalRecon
• goDoH
• hostapd-mana
• Metasploit Framework v6
• Whatmask

How To Download Or Upgrade to Kali Linux 2020.4?

At last, if you want to enjoy all the above-mentioned features, you can download new Kali 2020.4 images available for several platforms from here.

Or else, if you’re alerady using the previous version, upgrade your system by running commands:

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade

And set the default shell to ZSH using:

$ cp -i /etc/skel/.zshrc ~/
$ chsh -s /bin/zsh
$ zsh