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GhostBSD VS Kali Linux

Compare GhostBSD VS Kali Linux and see what are their differences

GhostBSD logo GhostBSD

GhostBSD is a user friendly desktop operating system based on ...

Kali Linux logo Kali Linux

Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration...
  • GhostBSD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-23
  • Kali Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-30

GhostBSD features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GhostBSD offers a user-friendly interface that is ideal for those who are new to the BSD operating systems, making the transition smoother for users familiar with Linux or Windows.
  • Based on FreeBSD
    Being based on FreeBSD, GhostBSD inherits its robustness, security features, and advanced networking capabilities, providing a stable and reliable operating system.
  • Pre-installed Applications
    GhostBSD comes with a variety of pre-installed applications that cover basic needs such as web browsing, multimedia, and productivity, reducing the setup time for new installations.
  • Community Support
    The GhostBSD community offers support through forums and documentation, which can be helpful for troubleshooting or learning more about the system.
  • Rolling Release Model
    GhostBSD uses a rolling release model, which means users receive continuous updates and new features as soon as they are available.

Possible disadvantages of GhostBSD

  • Limited Software Availability
    Compared to more popular operating systems like Linux, GhostBSD may have limited availability of software packages and applications.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Like many BSD-based systems, GhostBSD can have compatibility issues with certain hardware, which might require additional troubleshooting or alternative drivers.
  • Smaller Community
    The community supporting GhostBSD is smaller compared to more mainstream operating systems like Ubuntu or Fedora, potentially making it harder to find help for specific issues.
  • Lack of Enterprise Features
    GhostBSD might lack some of the enterprise-level features and support that are offered by more established operating systems, making it less ideal for business use.
  • Resource Intensive
    Although relatively lightweight, GhostBSD can be more resource-intensive compared to some other BSD variants, impacting performance on older hardware.

Kali Linux features and specs

  • Specialized Tools
    Kali Linux comes pre-installed with numerous penetration testing and security tools tailored for various forms of security testing, including network scanning, vulnerability detection, and digital forensics.
  • Regular Updates
    Frequent updates ensure that the tools and the kernel include the latest capabilities and patches for performance and security.
  • Community Support
    Kali Linux has a large and active community of users and developers, offering vast resources, guides, and forums for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize their environment by building their own Kali images, adding or removing tools, and adjusting configurations to fit specific requirements.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    Kali Linux can be installed on various platforms including ARM devices, virtual machines, and cloud platforms, offering flexibility in deployment.

Possible disadvantages of Kali Linux

  • Complexity
    Due to its advanced nature and specialized tools, Kali Linux has a steep learning curve, making it challenging for beginners.
  • Not Intended for General Use
    Kali Linux is specifically designed for penetration testing and security research, and using it for general desktop purposes may not be ideal.
  • Potential for Misuse
    The tools included in Kali Linux can be used for malicious purposes if fallen into the wrong hands, raising ethical and legal concerns.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Certain hardware, particularly newer or less common configurations, may not be fully supported, potentially requiring advanced troubleshooting to resolve.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running some of the powerful tools included can be resource-intensive, requiring significant computing power and memory to operate efficiently.

Analysis of Kali Linux

Overall verdict

  • Kali Linux is excellent for its intended purpose as a penetration testing and security-focused distribution. Its robust suite of tools and focus on security make it a versatile and powerful platform for cybersecurity professionals, though it may not be ideal for general-purpose computing or users not involved in security fields.

Why this product is good

  • Kali Linux is a specialized distribution of Linux designed primarily for security professionals and penetration testers. It is equipped with a wide array of tools for network and security analysis, penetration testing, and forensics. This makes it highly suitable for individuals who require advanced security capabilities from their operating system.

Recommended for

  • Cybersecurity professionals
  • Penetration testers
  • Network security analysts
  • IT security consultants
  • Individuals or organizations needing a comprehensive security toolkit

GhostBSD videos

GhostBSD 20.08.04 Install & Review

More videos:

  • Review - GhostBSD 20.02 w/Mate Overview | Distro Delves S2:Ep14
  • Review - GhostBSD First Impression Install and Review

Kali Linux videos

Kali Linux Review & Walkthrough | NEW Undercover Mode | 2019.4 Update | (Linux Beginners Tutorial)

More videos:

  • Review - Kali Linux 2020.1 | The Best Linux Distro For Hacking
  • Review - KALI LINUX : THE BEST DISTRO FOR PENTESTING!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GhostBSD and Kali Linux)
Operating Systems
27 27%
73% 73
Linux
25 25%
75% 75
Linux Distribution
26 26%
74% 74
BSD
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GhostBSD and Kali Linux

GhostBSD Reviews

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Kali Linux Reviews

The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Kali Linux is often referred to as Hacker Linux. In fact, the main task of the operating system is security. Kali Linux provides numerous features for testing and maintaining computers, networks, and systems. Vulnerabilities are identified and lost data can be quickly recovered. However, users must have prior knowledge for the best possible results. Accordingly, more...
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Kali Linux is a Linux distribution, that was created purely for the purpose of penetration testing and ethical hacking. Kali Linux is Debian-based Linux distribution that is maintained by top feature security.
Best Secure Linux Distros for Enhanced Privacy & Security
There’s a Kaili Linux training suite available called Kali Linux Dojo, where users can learn how to customize their own Kali ISO and learn the basics of pentesting. All of these resources are available on Kali’s website, free of charge. Kali Linux also boasts a paid-for pentesting course that can be taken online, with a 24-hour certification exam. Once you pass this exam,...
Top 10 Most Secure Linux Distros for Personal Use
You can use Kali Linux via a USB stick or DVD, so this distro is quite easy to use, like the Tails distro mentioned earlier in the list. Kali Linux is compatible with both 32- and 64-bit systems. Apart from that, the basic requirements of Kali Linux are 512 MB of RAM and 10 GB of hard disk space. According to multiple surveys, developers consider Kali Linux to be one of the...
Source: linuxhint.com
Best Kali Linux Alternatives
A system based on security is a great approach for hackers, as it can immediately detect any defects and weaknesses in a computer or network. Linux is the most commonly used operating system among hackers. Various Linux hacking distributions consist of several tools used to improve the security of the network. Kali Linux is one of the best distributions, and alternative...
Source: linuxhint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Kali Linux should be more popular than GhostBSD. It has been mentiond 42 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GhostBSD mentions (13)

  • GhostBSD June 1, 2023 release available https://ghostbsd.org/download
    Robonuggie Video Don't give up the Ghost(BSD)ghostbsd.org. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Can SGI’s Enthusiast Community Bring IRIX Back to Life?
    People are still actively working on Illumos. The last change was yesterday morning. * https://illumos.org People are still actively working on MirBSD. There's a CVS commit account that can be followed on the FediVerse. * http://www.mirbsd.org It's DragonFly BSD, not Dragon BSD, and the irony of that is that you missed FreeBSD, which is of course still going. * https://dragonflybsd.org * https://freebsd.org As... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Suspicious content on GhostBSD's website
    There's a number of dubious looking websites listed at the bottom of https://ghostbsd.org (life insurance, "how to game", etc). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Microsoft provides The DirectX Shader Compiler binaries for Linux
    It will work for BSD Unix also. I will test it on ChostBSD, but I don't know about support AMD RX 6500 XT at the present time. After replacing RX 560 I can't start X11 :(. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Would you recommend FreeBSD to a home user/enthusiast?
    Though I'm not a UNIX desktop guy, when I do want FreeBSD I like to use GhostBSD, since it's well maintained and saves me some time with setup. You might want to start there. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Kali Linux mentions (42)

  • Windows 10 finds Viruses in Kali Linux iso or VM image
    Thanks. It was downloaded from official kali.org website. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Resources needed.
    Step 1: download the Kali image from kali.org Step 2: burn the image with Rufus app (windows) on a pen-drive (16gb would be a good choice). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I have 2 versions of python (python3 and 3.11) and i can't seem to uninstall any of them ( i don't run kali on vmware)
    Hi, thanks for the reply (: I just mentioned in the 1st comment above that I actually had some trouble burning the iso into my pen usb since the windows firewall assumed some files as trojan. I don't know if they're really trojan ( and why would an operative system would have been built by trojan since I downloaded it from kali.org ) or if windows firewall is just too above of it's head. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Desperate for advise! I’m a greenhorn.
    I think you're in over your head tbh. I wouldn't fret about getting haxxed or anything. I mean we could spend all day talking about all the ways you could, but if you got the iso from kali.org and used best practices shown on their website, you'll be fine. Source: about 2 years ago
  • No gui and unable to fetch
    From what it looks like, you’re unable to resolve http://kali.org so this should fix it after you restart the service from the command I provided above. Let me know 👍🏼. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GhostBSD and Kali Linux, you can also consider the following products

FreeBSD - FreeBSD is an advanced operating system for x86 compatible (including Pentium® and Athlon™)...

Parrot OS - The best choice for security experts, developers and crypto-addicted people.

DragonFly BSD - DragonFly belongs to the same class of operating systems as other BSD-derived systems and Linux.

BlackArch - BlackArch Linux is an Small Arch Linux iconArch Linux -based distribution for penetration testers...

NomadBSD - NomadBSD is a persistent live system for USB flash drives, based on FreeBSD.

ArchStrike - An Arch Linux repository for security professionals and enthusiasts.