View source for BackTrack

{{Short description|Linux distribution}}
{{Other uses|Backtrack (disambiguation){{!}}Backtrack}}
{{primary sources|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = BackTrack
| logo = [[File:{{#Property:P154}}|center|250px|Backtrack]]
| screenshot = [[File:BackTrack 5 R1.png|250px]]
| caption = BackTrack 5 R3
| developer = [[Offensive Security]]<ref name="Developers">{{cite web |title=Developers. |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/about/ |access-date=2010-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322191128/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/about/ |archive-date=2010-03-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{bullet list|Mati Aharoni|Devon Kearns}}
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| ui = [[Bash (Unix shell)|Bash]], [[KDE Plasma Desktop]], [[Fluxbox]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://backtrack.offensive-security.com/index.php/HowTo:Install_KDE_4.1 |title=HowTo:Install KDE 4.1 |publisher=Offensive-security.com |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806044712/http://backtrack.offensive-security.com/index.php/HowTo%3AInstall_KDE_4.1 |archive-date=2009-08-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.indonesianbacktrack.or.id/forumdisplay.php?fid=78 |title=BackTrack 4 tutorial |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026005034/http://forum.indonesianbacktrack.or.id/forumdisplay.php?fid=78 |archive-date=2011-10-26 }}</ref> [[GNOME]]
| license = Various
| preceded by = {{ubl|WHAX|Auditor Security Collection}}
| succeeded by = [[Kali Linux]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.backtrack-linux.org/}}
| source_model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2006|05|26}}
| discontinued = yes
| latest_release_version = 5 R3
| latest_release_date = {{start date and age|2012|8|13}}
| latest_test_version = 
| supported_platforms = [[x86|i386&nbsp;(x86)]], [[X86-64|AMD64&nbsp;(x86-64)]], [[ARM architecture|ARM]]
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]]
| working_state = Discontinued
}}
'''BackTrack''' was a [[Linux distribution]] that focused on security, based on the [[Knoppix]] [[Linux distribution]] aimed at [[digital forensics]] and [[penetration test]]ing use.<ref name="BackTrack Linux">{{cite web |title=BackTrack Linux – Penetration Testing Distribution |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123202439/https://www.backtrack-linux.org/ |archive-date=23 January 2025 |access-date=19 February 2025 |website=Backtrack Linux}}</ref> In March 2013, the Offensive Security team rebuilt BackTrack around the [[Debian]] distribution and released it under the name [[Kali Linux]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 13, 2013 |title=Kali Linux Has Been Released! |url=https://www.offsec.com/blog/kali-linux-released/ |access-date=March 18, 2013 |website=[[Offensive Security]]}}</ref>

== History ==
The BackTrack distribution originated from the merger of two formerly competing distributions which focused on [[penetration test]]ing:
* ''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]].<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=BackTrack |url=http://www.remote-exploit.org/articles/backtrack/index.html |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=remote-exploit.org}}</ref>
* ''Auditor Security Collection'': a [[Live CD]] based on [[Knoppix]] developed by ''Max Moser'' which included over 300 tools organized in a user-friendly hierarchy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moser |first=Max |date=June 22, 2005 |title=New release of the Auditor Security Collection available |url=https://seclists.org/pen-test/2005/Jun/230 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=seclists.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Marti |first=Don |date=August 2005 |title=Editors' choice awards 2005 |url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.5555/1080072.1080076 |journal=[[Linux Journal]] |publisher=Belltown Media |volume=2005 |issue=136 |pages=4 |issn=1075-3583}}</ref>

On January 9, 2010, BackTrack 4 improved hardware support, and added official [[Fluxbox|FluxBox]] support.<ref name="BackTrack Linux" /> 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]].<ref name="BackTrack Linux" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Kali Linux History |url=https://www.kali.org/docs/introduction/kali-linux-history/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=[[Kali Linux]] |publisher=[[Offensive Security]]}}</ref>

== Tools ==
BackTrack provided users with easy access to a comprehensive and large collection of security-related tools ranging from port scanners to Security Audit.<ref>{{Cite conference |last=Lalitha |first=Priya |last2=Challissery Samu |first2=Lifna |last3=Shankar Jagli |first3=Dhanamma |last4=Joy |first4=Anooja |date=5 April 2014 |title=Rational Unified Treatment for Web Application Vulnerability Assessment |conference=International Conference on Circuits, Systems, Communication and Information Technology Applications |publisher=[[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] |publication-place=Mumbai, India |pages=338 |doi=10.1109/CSCITA.2014.6839283 |isbn=978-1-4799-2494-3}}</ref> Support for [[Live CD]] and [[Live USB]] functionality allowed users to boot BackTrack directly from portable media without requiring installation,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gupta |first=Ajay |date=October 1, 2010 |title=BackTrack 4: A One-Stop Shop for Security Analysis and Learning |url=https://www.opensourceforu.com/2010/10/backtrack-4-one-stop-shop-for-security-analysis-and-learning/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=opensourceforu.com}}</ref> though permanent installation to hard disk and network was also an option.

BackTrack included many well known security tools including:<ref name=":1">{{Cite report |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140002617/downloads/20140002617.pdf |title=Network Penetration Testing and Research |last=Murphy |first=Brandon F. |date=July 30, 2013 |publisher=[[NASA]] |pages=2–3 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |url-status=}}</ref>
* [[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 [[Wi-Fi Protected Setup|WPS]]
* [[Gerix Wifi Cracker]]
* [[Kismet (software)|Kismet]]
* [[Nmap]]
* [[Ophcrack]]
* [[Ettercap (software)|Ettercap]]
* [[Wireshark]] (formerly known as Ethereal)
* [[BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework)]]
* [[Hydra (software)|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 [[Exploit (computer security)|exploits]] as well as more commonplace software such as [[Web browser|browsers]].
* [[Armitage (computing)|Armitage]] - [[Java (programming language)|java]]-based front-end to Metasploit.

BackTrack arranged tools into 12 categories:<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hess |first=Ken |date=September 20, 2011 |title=BackTrack Linux: The Ultimate Hacker's Arsenal |url=https://www.admin-magazine.com/Articles/BackTrack-Linux-The-Ultimate-Hacker-s-Arsenal |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=Admin Magazine |pages=1–3}}</ref>
* Information gathering
* [[Vulnerability assessment (computing)|Vulnerability assessment]]
* Exploitation tools
* [[Privilege escalation]]
* Maintaining access
* [[Reverse engineering]]
* [[Radio-frequency identification|RFID]] tools
* [[Stress testing (computing)|Stress testing]]
* Forensics
* Reporting tools
* Services
* Miscellaneous

== Releases ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date
! Release
|-
| May 26, 2006
| First stable release of BackTrack based on [[Slackware]]<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |title=BackTrack Downloads (seriously old) |url=http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download_veryold.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626100030/http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download_veryold.html |archive-date=2008-06-26 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=remote-exploit.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 May 2006 |title=BackTrack Security Final Release |url=https://secmaniac.blogspot.com/2006/05/backtrack-security-final-release.html |access-date=April 9, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| October 13, 2006
| BackTrack 2 beta #1 released<ref>{{cite web |title=Downloads |url=http://www.offensive-security.com/downloads.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027172529/http://www.offensive-security.com/downloads.html |archive-date=October 27, 2006 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=[[Offensive Security]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 October 2006 |title=BackTrack v2.0 Public Beta Has Been Released! |url=https://secmaniac.blogspot.com/2006/10/backtrack-v20-public-beta-has-been.html |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=secmaniac |language=en |via=[[Blogspot]]}}</ref>
|-
| November 19, 2006
| BackTrack 2 beta #2 released<ref>{{cite web |title=BackTrack Downloads |url=http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202024932/http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download.html |archive-date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=remote-exploit.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| March 6, 2007
| BackTrack 2 final released<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |date=13 February 2007 |title=BackTrack 2.0 Final Due End of February |url=https://secmaniac.blogspot.com/2007/02/backtrack-20-final-due-end-of-febuary.html |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=secmaniac |language=en |via=[[Blogspot]]}}</ref>
|-
| December 14, 2007
| BackTrack 3 beta released<ref>{{cite web |title=Latest News |url=http://www.remote-exploit.org:80/news.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501210105/http://www.remote-exploit.org/news.html |archive-date=2008-05-01 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=remote-exploit.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
|-
| June 19, 2008
| BackTrack 3 final released (Linux kernel 2.6.21.5)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=June 19, 2008 |title=BackTrack Developers Log |url=http://www.remote-exploit.org:80/backtrack_devlog.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529075045/http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_devlog.html |archive-date=May 29, 2009 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=remote-exploit.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| February 11, 2009
| BackTrack 4 beta released<ref>{{cite web |title=BackTrack Downloads |url=http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523080314/http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download.html |archive-date=2009-05-23 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=remote-exploit.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| January 9, 2010
| BackTrack 4 final release (Linux kernel 2.6.30.9 and base OS changed to [[Ubuntu]])<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |date=January 9, 2010 |title=BackTrack 4 Final Released |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack4-release/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114220541/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack4-release/ |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=backtrack-linux.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=11 January 2010 |title=BackTrack 4 Final Release |url=https://www.offensive-security.com/backtrack/backtrack-4-final-release/ |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=[[Offensive Security]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| May 8, 2010
| BackTrack 4 R1 release<ref>{{cite web |date=August 4, 2010 |title=BackTrack 4 R1 – Public Release |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-4-r1-public-release/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130093002/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-4-r1-public-release/ |archive-date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=backtrack-linux.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| November 22, 2010
| BackTrack 4 R2 release<ref>{{cite web |date=November 19, 2010 |title=BackTrack 4 R2 Download! |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-4-r2-download/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112194447/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-4-r2-download/ |archive-date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=backtrack-linux.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| May 10, 2011
| BackTrack 5 release (Linux kernel 2.6.38)<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |date=May 10, 2011 |title=BackTrack 5 Release |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-release/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226060247/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-release/ |archive-date=February 26, 2012 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=backtrack-linux.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| August 18, 2011
| BackTrack 5 R1 release (Linux kernel 2.6.39.5)<ref>{{cite web |date=August 18, 2011 |title=BackTrack 5 R1 released |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-r1-released |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223221229/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-r1-released |archive-date=February 23, 2012 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=backtrack-linux.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| March 1, 2012
| BackTrack 5 R2 release (Linux kernel 3.2.6)<ref>{{cite web |date=March 1, 2012 |title=BackTrack 5 R2 Released |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-r2-released/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303005136/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-r2-released/ |archive-date=March 3, 2012 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=backtrack-linux.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| August 13, 2012
| BackTrack 5 R3 release<ref>{{cite web |date=August 13, 2012 |title=BackTrack 5 R3 Released! |url=http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-r3-released/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314031147/http://www.backtrack-linux.org/backtrack/backtrack-5-r3-released/ |archive-date=March 14, 2013 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |website=backtrack-linux.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}
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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Waqas |date=February 1, 2013 |title=BackTrack to be Reborn as Kali Linux! |url=https://www.hackread.com/backtrack-to-be-reborn-as-kali-linux/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=HackRead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.backtrack-linux.org/}}


{{Linux-distro}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backtrac}}
[[Category:Discontinued Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions offering KDE desktop environment]]
[[Category:Operating system distributions bootable from read-only media]]
[[Category:Pentesting software toolkits]]
[[Category:Year of introduction missing]] <!-- hidden maintenance category -->
[[Category:Linux distributions]]