Installation of Kali Linux in Virtual Machine

Kali Linux is a powerful Debian-based distribution specifically designed for penetration testing and security research. Installing it in a virtual machine using VirtualBox provides a safe, isolated environment for learning cybersecurity tools without affecting your host system. This guide walks you through the complete installation process of Kali Linux 2025.3 in VirtualBox on macOS.

Prerequisites:

• VirtualBox installed on your computer​
• Kali Linux ISO downloaded from kali.org​
• Minimum 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)​​
• At least 20 GB free disk space​​

Steps of Installation

Step 1: Download Required Files

1. Download VirtualBox from virtualbox.org​
2. Download Kali Linux ISO from kali.org​

Choose the Installer option for x86_64 architecture​​

Step 2: Create Virtual Machine

1. Open VirtualBox and click New​​

2. Configure basic settings:​

• Name: kali linux
• Type: Linux
• Version: Linux 2.6 / 3.x / 4.x / 5.x (64-bit)
• ISO Image: Browse and select your downloaded Kali Linux ISO file​

Step 3: Allocate Hardware Resources

Configure memory and processors:​​

• Base Memory: 2048 MB minimum (4096 MB recommended)​
• Processors: 4 CPUs (minimum 2)​
• Hard Disk: 25-30 GB

Click Finish to create the VM​​

Step 4: Start Installation

1. Select your VM and click Start​​

Choose Graphical Install from the boot menu​

Step 5: Complete Installation Process

Follow the on-screen prompts:​

1. Select Language: Choose your language​
2. Select Location: Choose your country/region​
3. Configure Keyboard: Select keyboard layout​
4. Set Hostname: Enter a name for your system​
5. Create User Account: Enter username and password (twice)​
6. Partition Disks: Select "Guided - use entire disk"​
7. Confirm Partitioning: Choose "All files in one partition"​
8. Write Changes: Select "Yes" to write changes to disk​
9. Software Selection: Choose desktop environment and tools​
10. Install GRUB: Select "Yes" and choose the hard disk​

Step 6: Reboot and Login

1. Click Continue when installation completes​
2. VM will reboot automatically​
3. Login with your created username and password​

Post-Installation

1. Update system: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade​
2. Install VirtualBox Guest Additions for better performance​
3. Configure network settings as needed
4. Your Kali Linux virtual machine is now ready to use.