Creating a Bootable Linux USB Flash Drive with BackTrack 4 Penetration Testing ToolsPenetr...

Creating a Bootable Linux USB Flash Drive with BackTrack 4 Penetration Testing Tools

Penetration testing is designed to exploit any weaknesses in systems that are uncovered. Instead of using a single automated software package, penetration testing relies upon the skill, knowledge, and cunning of the tester. BackTrack 4 is recognized as one of the premiere penetration testing suites that includes a broad range of tools that a tester can use. Although BackTrack 4 only runs natively on the Linux operating system, there are techniques to use it on a Windows-based computer as well. The optimum solution is to create a bootable USB flash drive that contains Linux and the Backtrack 4 package. Booting from the USB flash drive does not disturb the operating system installed on the hard drive. In this project, you will create a bootable Linux USB flash drive with BackTrack.

In order to complete this project, you will need a computer with a fast Internet connection and a USB flash drive that is at least 8 GB or a DVD disc.

1. First you will download Unetbootin, which allows you to create a live bootable USB flash drive. Use your Web browser to go to unetbootin.sourceforge.net.

2. Click the button Download (for Windows).

3. Follow the instructions to install Unetbootin on your computer.

4. Next, you will download Backtrack 4, which contains the Linux operating system and the Linux-based Wireshark network protocol analyzer software. Use your Web browser to go to www.backtrack-linux.org.

It is not unusual for Web sites to change the location where files are stored. If the preceding URL no longer functions, then open a search engine like Google and search for “Backtrack 4”.

5. Click Downloads.

6. Locate the latest BackTrack release and then click Download.

BackTrack is an extremely large application and will take up to three hours to download with a fast Internet connection.

7. After the BackTrack download is completed, insert the USB flash drive into the computer and note the letter drive assigned to the flash drive.

8. Launch Windows Explorer and navigate to the location of the Unetbootin file.

9. Launch the Unetbootin application by clicking the filename.

10. Click the radio button Diskimage.

11. Click the browse button (labeled “…”) and then locate the downloaded Backtrack file.

12. Under Type: be sure that it says USB Drive.

Be sure the Type: says USB Drive and not Hard Drive. If Hard Drive is selected, it will erase the entire contents of the hard drive.

13. Under Drive: be sure that it displays the letter drive assigned to the USB flash drive you inserted in Step 7.

14. Click OK. Depending on the computer, it could take 3–5 minutes to complete the process.

15. Close all windows.