BackTrack
{{Short description|Linux distribution}}
{{Other uses|Backtrack (disambiguation){{!}}Backtrack}}
{{primary sources|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = BackTrack
| logo = File:{{#Property:P154}}
| screenshot = 250px
| caption = BackTrack 5 R3
| developer = Offensive Security{{cite web |title=Developers. |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/about/ |access-date=2010-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322191128/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/about/ |archive-date=2010-03-22 |url-status=dead }}{{bullet list|Mati Aharoni|Devon Kearns}}
| ui = Bash, KDE Plasma Desktop, Fluxbox,{{cite web|url=http://backtrack.offensive-security.com/index.php/HowTo:Install_KDE_4.1 |title=HowTo:Install KDE 4.1 |publisher=Offensive-security.com |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806044712/http://backtrack.offensive-security.com/index.php/HowTo%3AInstall_KDE_4.1 |archive-date=2009-08-06 }}{{cite web|url=http://forum.indonesianbacktrack.or.id/forumdisplay.php?fid=78 |title=BackTrack 4 tutorial |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026005034/http://forum.indonesianbacktrack.or.id/forumdisplay.php?fid=78 |archive-date=2011-10-26 }} GNOME
| license = Various
| preceded by = {{ubl|WHAX|Auditor Security Collection}}
| succeeded by = Kali Linux
| website = {{URL|http://www.backtrack-linux.org/}}
| source_model = Open source
| released = {{Start date and age|2006|05|26}}
| discontinued = yes
| latest_release_version = 5 R3
| latest_release_date = {{start date and age|2012|8|13}}
| latest_test_version =
| supported_platforms = i386 (x86), AMD64 (x86-64), ARM
| kernel_type = Monolithic
| working_state = Discontinued
}}
BackTrack was a Linux distribution that focused on security, based on the Knoppix Linux distribution aimed at digital forensics and penetration testing use.{{cite web |title=BackTrack Linux – Penetration Testing Distribution |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123202439/https://www.backtrack-linux.org/ |archive-date=23 January 2025 |access-date=19 February 2025 |website=Backtrack Linux}} In March 2013, the Offensive Security team rebuilt BackTrack around the Debian distribution and released it under the name Kali Linux.{{cite web |date=March 13, 2013 |title=Kali Linux Has Been Released! |url=https://www.offsec.com/blog/kali-linux-released/ |access-date=March 18, 2013 |website=Offensive Security}}
History
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.{{cite web |date= |title=BackTrack |url=http://www.remote-exploit.org/articles/backtrack/index.html |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=remote-exploit.org}}
- Auditor Security Collection: a Live CD based on Knoppix developed by Max Moser which included over 300 tools organized in a user-friendly hierarchy.{{Cite web |last=Moser |first=Max |date=June 22, 2005 |title=New release of the Auditor Security Collection available |url=https://seclists.org/pen-test/2005/Jun/230 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=seclists.org}}{{Cite journal |last=Marti |first=Don |date=August 2005 |title=Editors' choice awards 2005 |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.5555/1080072.1080076 |journal=Linux Journal |publisher=Belltown Media |volume=2005 |issue=136 |pages=4 |issn=1075-3583}}
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.{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Kali Linux History |url=https://www.kali.org/docs/introduction/kali-linux-history/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=Kali Linux |publisher=Offensive Security}}
Tools
BackTrack provided users with easy access to a comprehensive and large collection of security-related tools ranging from port scanners to Security Audit.{{Cite conference |last=Lalitha |first=Priya |last2=Challissery Samu |first2=Lifna |last3=Shankar Jagli |first3=Dhanamma |last4=Joy |first4=Anooja |date=5 April 2014 |title=Rational Unified Treatment for Web Application Vulnerability Assessment |conference=International Conference on Circuits, Systems, Communication and Information Technology Applications |publisher=Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |publication-place=Mumbai, India |pages=338 |doi=10.1109/CSCITA.2014.6839283 |isbn=978-1-4799-2494-3}} Support for Live CD and Live USB functionality allowed users to boot BackTrack directly from portable media without requiring installation,{{Cite news |last=Gupta |first=Ajay |date=October 1, 2010 |title=BackTrack 4: A One-Stop Shop for Security Analysis and Learning |url=https://www.opensourceforu.com/2010/10/backtrack-4-one-stop-shop-for-security-analysis-and-learning/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=opensourceforu.com}} though permanent installation to hard disk and network was also an option.
BackTrack included many well known security tools including:{{Cite report |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140002617/downloads/20140002617.pdf |title=Network Penetration Testing and Research |last=Murphy |first=Brandon F. |date=July 30, 2013 |publisher=NASA |pages=2–3 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |url-status=}}
- 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:{{Cite news |last=Hess |first=Ken |date=September 20, 2011 |title=BackTrack Linux: The Ultimate Hacker's Arsenal |url=https://www.admin-magazine.com/Articles/BackTrack-Linux-The-Ultimate-Hacker-s-Arsenal |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=Admin Magazine |pages=1–3}}
- Information gathering
- Vulnerability assessment
- Exploitation tools
- Privilege escalation
- Maintaining access
- Reverse engineering
- RFID tools
- Stress testing
- Forensics
- Reporting tools
- Services
- Miscellaneous
Releases
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.{{cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Waqas |date=February 1, 2013 |title=BackTrack to be Reborn as Kali Linux! |url=https://www.hackread.com/backtrack-to-be-reborn-as-kali-linux/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=HackRead}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.backtrack-linux.org/}}
{{Linux-distro}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Backtrac}}
Category:Discontinued Linux distributions
Category:Linux distributions offering KDE desktop environment
Category:Operating system distributions bootable from read-only media
Category:Pentesting software toolkits