BlackArch

BlackArch is a penetration testing distribution based on Arch Linux that provides a large number of security tools. It is an open-source distro created specially for penetration testers and security researchers. The repository contains more than 2900 tools that can be installed individually or in groups. BlackArch Linux is compatible with existing Arch Linux installations.^[1][2]

BlackArch Linux

Developer	Levon 'noptrix' Kayan (Lead Developer)
OS family	Linux (Unix-like)
Working state	Current
Source model	Open-source
Initial release	16 August 2012; 12 years ago (2012-08-16)
Latest release	2023.01.05 / 22 months ago
Repository	github.com/blackarch
Marketing target	Penetration Testers and Security Researchers
Update method	Rolling release
Package manager	Pacman
Platforms	x86-64, aarch64
Kernel type	Monolithic (Linux kernel)
Userland	GNU
Default user interface	Fluxbox, AwesomeWM, i3wm, spectrwm, XFCE
License	Various
Official website	blackarch.org blackarch.wiki

Overview

BlackArch is similar in usage to both Parrot OS and Kali Linux when fully installed, with a major difference being BlackArch is based on Arch Linux instead of Debian.

BlackArch only provides the Xfce desktop environment in the "Slim ISO" but provides multiple preconfigured Window Managers in the "Full ISO".

Similar to Kali Linux and Parrot OS, BlackArch can be burned to an ISO image and run as a live system.^[1] BlackArch can also be installed as an unofficial user repository on any current Arch Linux installation.^[3]

Packages

BlackArch currently contains 2958 packages and tools, along with their dependencies.^[4] BlackArch is developed by a small number of cyber security specialists and researchers that add the packages as well as dependencies needed to run these tools.

Tools categories within the BlackArch distribution (Counting date: 15 April 2024):^[4]

1. blackarch-anti-forensic: 2 tools^[5]
2. blackarch-automation: 109 tools^[6]
3. blackarch-automobile: 3 tools^[7]
4. blackarch-backdoor: 47 tools^[8]
5. blackarch-binary: 71 tools^[9]
6. blackarch-bluetooth: 25 tools^[10]
7. blackarch-code-audit: 34 tools^[11]
8. blackarch-cracker: 169 tools^[12]
9. blackarch-crypto: 81 tools^[13]
10. blackarch-database: 5 tools^[14]
11. blackarch-debugger: 15 tools^[15]
12. blackarch-decompiler: 17 tools^[16]
13. blackarch-defensive: 46 tools^[17]
14. blackarch-disassembler: 20 tools^[18]
15. blackarch-dos: 30 tools^[19]
16. blackarch-drone: 4 tools^[20]
17. blackarch-exploitation: 186 tools^[21]
18. blackarch-fingerprint: 30 tools^[22]
19. blackarch-firmware: 4 tools^[23]
20. blackarch-forensic: 129 tools^[24]
21. blackarch-fuzzer: 85 tools^[25]
22. blackarch-hardware: 6 tools^[26]
23. blackarch-honeypot: 16 tools^[27]
24. blackarch-ids: 1 tool^[28]
25. blackarch-keylogger: 3 tools^[29]
26. blackarch-malware: 34 tools^[30]
27. blackarch-misc: 144 tools^[31]
28. blackarch-mobile: 43 tools^[32]
29. blackarch-networking: 170 tools^[33]
30. blackarch-nfc: 1 tool^[34]
31. blackarch-packer: 2 tools^[35]
32. blackarch-proxy: 38 tools^[36]
33. blackarch-radio: 15 tools^[37]
34. blackarch-recon: 38 tools^[38]
35. blackarch-reversing: 42 tools^[39]
36. blackarch-scanner: 313 tools^[40]
37. blackarch-sniffer: 46 tools^[41]
38. blackarch-social: 59 tools^[42]
39. blackarch-spoof: 17 tools^[43]
40. blackarch-stego: 13 tools^[44]
41. blackarch-tunnel: 27 tools^[45]
42. blackarch-voip: 22 tools^[46]
43. blackarch-webapp: 310 tools^[47]
44. blackarch-windows: 134 tools^[48]
45. blackarch-wireless: 81 tools^[49]
46. Uncategorized tools: 3 tools; didier-stevens-suite, python-search-engine-parser, python-yara-rednaga

References

1. "BlackArch Linux - Penetration Testing Distribution". BlackArch Linux. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
2. Barrow (September 25, 2017). "Exploring Kali Linux Alternatives: How to Get Started with BlackArch, a More Up-to-Date Pentesting Distro". WonderHowTo. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
3. "Downloads BlackArch". Retrieved 2020-07-03.
4. "Tools in BlackArch". BlackArch. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
5. "Anti-forensic tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
6. "Automation tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
7. "Automobile tools". blackarch.org. Archived from the original on 2016-12-23. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
8. "Backdoor tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
9. "Binary tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
10. "Bluetooth tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
11. "Code-audit tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
12. "Cracker tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
13. "Crypto tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
14. "Database tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
15. "Debugger tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
16. "Cracker decompiler". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
17. "Defensive tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
18. "Disassembler tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
19. "Dos tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
20. "Drone tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
21. "Exploitation tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
22. "Fingerprint tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
23. "Firmware tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
24. "Forensic tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
25. "Fuzzer tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
26. "Hardware tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
27. "Honeypot tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
28. "Ids tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
29. "Keylogger tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
30. "Malware tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
31. "Misc tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
32. "Mobile tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
33. "Networking tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
34. "Nfc tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
35. "Packer tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
36. "Proxy tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
37. "Radio tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
38. "Recon tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
39. "Reversing tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
40. "Scanner tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
41. "Sniffer tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
42. "Social tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
43. "Spoof tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
44. "Steganography tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
45. "Tunnel tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
46. "Voip tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
47. "Webapp tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
48. "Windows tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
49. "Wireless tools". blackarch.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

External links

• Official website
• BlackArch Installation and development Guide
• BlackArch Linux downloads
• BlackArch DistroWatch page