When using Kali Linux on TryHackMe‘s shared network, especially during public activities like streaming on YouTube or Twitch, hardening Kali Linux is essential. Kali is a powerful operating system built for penetration testing and comes preloaded with a wide array of hacking tools. While these tools are vital for ethical cybersecurity work, they also introduce vulnerabilities if not properly secured. This makes Kali a double-edged sword: the same capabilities that allow you to test security can also be exploited by others to target your system.
TryHackMe’s shared networks host a diverse range of users with varying levels of cybersecurity expertise and intentions. As a result, your Kali VM may be exposed to individuals with the knowledge and ill-intent necessary to compromise your system. To protect yourself, it’s critical to harden Kali Linux by configuring firewalls, disabling unnecessary services, and regularly applying software updates. These practices help minimize your attack surface and reduce the risk of exploitation by others on the same network.
In summary, securing your Kali VM in TryHackMe’s shared environment is not just good practice: it’s essential. By proactively implementing security measures, you protect your own activities while contributing to a safer, more responsible cybersecurity learning space for everyone.
Attached are my notes for hardening Kali Linux. They were created as a vault in Obsidian; essentially a folder full of markdown files. Pathing the folder as a vault in Obsidian is the easiest way to read the notes but feel free to contact me for other file formats and I’ll see what I can do:
Thanks to @sunginhapreis22 for reminding me to finally post this! AD notes (and a whole bunch of AD stuff) coming soon!