BackTrack was a Linux distribution that focused on security, based on the Knoppix Linux distribution aimed at digital forensics and penetration test use. In March 2013, the Offensive Security team rebuilt BackTrack around the Debian distribution and released it under the name Kali Linux.
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. Auditor Security Collection: a Live CD based on Knoppix developed by Max Moser which included over 300 tools organized in a user-friendly hierarchy.
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.
Tools BackTrack provided users with easy access to a comprehensive and large collection of security-related tools ranging from port scanners to Security Audit. Support for Live CD and Live USB functionality allowed users to boot BackTrack directly from portable media without requiring installation, though permanent installation to hard disk and network was also an option.
BackTrack included many well known security tools including: 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: Information gathering Vulnerability assessment Exploitation tools Privilege escalation Maintaining access Reverse engineering RFID tools Stress testing Forensics Reporting tools Services Miscellaneous
Releases Date Release May 26, 2006 First stable release of BackTrack based on Slackware October 13, 2006 BackTrack 2 beta #1 released November 19, 2006 BackTrack 2 beta #2 released March 6, 2007 BackTrack 2 final released December 14, 2007 BackTrack 3 beta released June 19, 2008 BackTrack 3 final released (Linux kernel 2.6.21.5) February 11, 2009 BackTrack 4 beta released January 9, 2010 BackTrack 4 final release (Linux kernel 2.6.30.9 and base OS changed to Ubuntu) May 8, 2010 BackTrack 4 R1 release November 22, 2010 BackTrack 4 R2 release May 10, 2011 BackTrack 5 release (Linux kernel 2.6.38) August 18, 2011 BackTrack 5 R1 release (Linux kernel 2.6.39.5) March 1, 2012 BackTrack 5 R2 release (Linux kernel 3.2.6) August 13, 2012 BackTrack 5 R3 release 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.
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