Kali Linux is the next generation and advance version of Backtrack Linux, it is more stable, secure and upgraded version of Linux based on Debian. It has been designed for Penetration Tester and Information Security professional and students, it contains all the necessary tools to conduct a successful penetration testing on web application, network, VoIP and WiFi. 

Beside ethical hacking tools, a Linux distribution must have necessary utilities and software’s so that it can become the first desktop operating system. Kali Linux is stable and it can load required drivers automatically, and it also has Add/Remove Software utility from where you can manage your software’s. It already has necessary tools installed from Document viewer to VLC player, but some tools that are required for a desktop computing are not installed and you need to install / configure them by yourself. 


This article is the discussion of software’s installation in Kali Linux, you can install as many software’s as you want but I will discuss the installation of some important software’s for example:

• Skype (for communication)
• Open Office
• Flash

When Backtrack 5 was launched, we have discussed the installation of important software’s on it but now the time has changed and we have Kali Linux so we will discuss the installation on it.

How to Install Skype in Kali Linux

The first step is to get Skype from its official website, make sure to select your distribution carefully. For Kali choose Ubuntu 10.04 and download it.


After downloading open terminal and locate the download directory, and install it by using dpkg -i command:

root@ehacking:~/Downloads# sudo dpkg -i skype-ubuntu-lucid_4.1.0.20-1_i386_001.deb

 How to Install Open Office in Kali Linux

Open office is a wonderful alternate of MS office, the easiest way to install open office is by using terminal and command “apt-get install openoffice.org” but one of our user has discussed about the repositories problem in Kali Linux. We have also seen that the debain repositories is not working properly hence you cannot install packages by using the terminal. The solution is as follows:

Necessary changes are required for Apt Repositories, kindly follow the steps mentioned below:

root@ehacking:~# cd ..
root@ehacking:/# ls
bin   etc         lib         mnt   root  selinux  tmp  vmlinuz
boot  home        lost+found  opt   run   srv      usr
dev   initrd.img  media       proc  sbin  sys      var
root@ehacking:/# cd etc/apt
root@ehacking:/etc/apt# nano sources.list

Important: Do not delete the lines that are already present on the source file, just add the following repositories in this file:

deb [arch=i386,amd64,armel,armhf] http://http.kali.org/kali kali-dev main contrib non-free
deb [arch=i386,amd64,armel,armhf] http://http.kali.org/kali kali-dev main/debian-installer
deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali main contrib non-free
deb-src http://http.kali.org/kali kali main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.kali.org/kali-security kali/updates main contrib non-free 

Press CTRL O than enter and than CTRL X for exist, you are almost done. Next step is to update your Linux, on terminal type apt-get update

Now it is very easy to install software’s by using terminal for Office type:

# apt-get install openoffice.org

How to Install Flash in Kali Linux

# apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree

Now your Kali is ready to install as many software’s as you want.