In this article, we will cover installing and configuring Oracle VirtualBox, creating a Kali Linux VM (Virtual Machine) and making sure the OS is up to date.
Note: A revised artivle covering the installation of Kali 2025.2 is available.
VirtualBox
Browse to the VirtualBox downloads page and select the appropriate download for your operating system. Also from this page, download the VirtualBox Extension Pack.
On Windows, double-click the VirtualBox installer exe just now downloaded and follow the onscreen prompts sticking with the default options.
When VirtualBox has finished installing, open the app and then select File -> Preferences -> Extensions. Click the Add button and browse to the location of the downloaded extension pack, click Open.
Kali
Download and install
Browse to the Virtual Machines section of the download page. Choose the correct bittage of your operating system; either 64-bit or 32-bit, then choose the VirtualBox download. I went with direct download although if you prefer, Torrent is an option.
Next, open VirtualBox and select File -> Preferences -> General. Select a folder for the default machine location, such as c:\VirtualMachines, otherwise, they will be created in a folder under your user profile. Click OK. If you’re okay with that then you can leave the setting as-is.
From the toolbar, select Import.
Browse to the location of the Kali ova file previously downloaded and select it. Click Next.
You can review the VM configuration and as desired, for example increasing the CPU count and the RAM.
Once you are happy with the settings, click Import. This will take a few minutes depending on the specification of your host computer.
When the import has been completed you will see an entry for the new VM, see the previous screenshot for my example.
Configuration
One more configuration step to look at is to update the network settings. This change will allow the Kali VM, and others created later to build up your lab, to access the Internet via the host machine if desired.
Select File -> Preferences -> Network and click the network card icon with the green plus sign.
This will create an entry with the name NatNetwork. Click OK.
Now select the Kali VM in the list and click Settings from the toolbar. Select Network and change the Attached To value from NAT to NAT Network, the Name will be automatically populated. Click OK.
Power on the VM by selecting it and clicking Start.
After a short moment, the following screen will appear. You can click into the VM and hit return to select the option or just let the five-second timer run down and allow the autoboot of Kali to start.
Once loaded, you will be presented with a login screen. The default credentials are kali/kali. Note: you can change these to secure the login, or leave them as default as it is a VM running on your local machine.
Verify the network connection
With Kali now loaded, look to the top-right corner and select the ethernet port icon (next to the clock). This will show that the ethernet network is connected to Wired connection 1.
Further information about the connection can be found by right-clicking the network icon and then selecting Connection Information.
The network connection can also be tested by opening the web browser (Firefox is available by default) via the globe icon in the toolbar and browsing to a URL.
Congratulations – you now have access to Kali Linux!
