BackBox Linux is a distribution based on Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS that has been built specifically for penetration testing and security assessments. A new major update has been released for it, and a number of important components have been upgraded.
BackBox Linux is only using the Ubuntu LTS releases as a base, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the latest version of BackBox Linux is now based on Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS. The next Ubuntu LTS version will follow in April 2016, so it’s likely that we’ll see a couple of more BackBox Linux upgrades in the 4.x branch for the distro.
All of these upgrades are important, especially for an operating system that is doing penetration testing. It’s running against distros like Kali Linux, the successor of BackTrack, so they need to be in tip-top shape. Everything must be up to date, and all the tools that they implemented need to work with pretty much everything that’s been released in the meantime.
What’s new in BackBox Linux 4.4
Building a reliable OS for penetration testing is not something easily done. Sure, a lot of people can put together their own little Linux distro and base it on something that’s already here, but making it in the world of security and penetration testing is a different matter altogether.
“The BackBox Team is pleased to announce the updated release of BackBox Linux, the version 4.4! In this release, we have some special new features included to keep BackBox up to date with last developments in security world. Tools such as OpenVAS and Automotive Analysis will make a big difference. BackBox 4.4 comes also with Kernel 3.19,” is noted in the official announcement.
According to the changelog, Ruby 2.1 is now provided by default, new custom actions have been added to the Thunar, file manager, a RAM wipe is now performed at shutdown and boot, a number of upstream packages have been included, the Anonymous mode has been improved, and many smaller fixes have been implemented.
You can also download the ISO images for BackBox Linux 4.4 from Softpedia and give it a try. If you already have the distro installed, you can run the following commands in terminal in order to upgrade it:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt-get install linux-image-generic-lts-vivid linux-headers-generic-lts-vivid linux-signed-image-generic-lts-vivid
sudo apt-get purge ri1.9.1 ruby1.9.1 ruby1.9.3 bundler
sudo gem cleanup
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/gems/1.*
sudo apt-get install backbox-default-settings backbox-desktop backbox-menu backbox-tools --reinstall
sudo apt-get install beef-project metasploit-framework whatweb wpscan setoolkit --reinstallsudo apt-get autoremove --purge
sudo apt-get install openvas sqlite3
sudo openvas-launch sync
sudo openvas-launch start
Via Softpedia