Welcome to today's blog post, if you are searching for a Wi-Fi adapter for Kali Linux then you are at the right place. In today's blog post, I am going to tell you the top 5 wifi adapters for Kali Linux.
Why buy a Wi-Fi adapter for Kali Linux
So, the reason why you need to buy the adapter for Kali is compatibility. Let me explain, One of the key features required for effective penetration testing is monitor mode. This mode allows the Wi-Fi adapter to capture and analyze network traffic passively, without being connected to any specific network.
However, not all Wi-Fi adapters support monitor mode. In fact, most consumer-grade adapters are designed for basic use and cannot operate in monitor mode.
Additionally, many Wi-Fi adapters are not designed to be compatible with Linux operating systems like Kali Linux. While they may work fine with Windows or macOS, their drivers and firmware cannot be optimized for Linux environments.
This can lead to compatibility issues, driver conflicts, and limited functionality when used with Kali Linux.
I've used a lot of different wifi adapters, but sometimes they have problems. I'm picking out some good ones for you, and I'll give you the drivers if you need them. Let's get started!
Sorted:
By price- TP-Link (TL-WN722N) (cheapest)
By performance- Alfa AC1900
I'm giving buy links with the products you can buy from my links; I will be able to earn affiliate money from those links.
Top 5 Wifi adapters for Kali Linux/Pentesting
Our first beast adapter is from Alpha. To be honest, Alfa is my favourite brand.
1. Alfa AC1900 WiFi Adapter
It is one of my favourite adapters and it works finely with Linux. You can easily use it in monitor mode and also for packet capture. Let's see its specifications.
.jpg "Alfa AC1900 WiFi Adapter for kali linux")
Here are the specifications and details of the wifi adapter:
Standards: It supports IEEE 802.11ac/a/n/g/b standards.
Pentesting support: it supports monitor mode and packet capturing.
Interface: It connects via USB 3.0.
Wireless Data Rate: It can achieve speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band.
Wireless Frequency: It operates on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies.
Wireless Security: It supports various security protocols including WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA/PSK, and WPA2-PSK.
Operating Temperature: It functions within the temperature range of 0 to 40°C.
Operating Systems: Compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10 (32/64bit), MacOS 10.12, and Linux kernel 3.0.
It gives the best speed and is compatible with Kali Linux. but its official driver only supports Linux kernel 3.0 so if you using a higher version you need to install the driver.
Driver for this adapter:https://github.com/zebulon2/rtl8814au
2.ALFA Network AWUS036ACS Wide-Coverage Dual-Band AC600 USB Wireless Wi-Fi Adapter
Our second product is also from Alpha. Let's see its features
Here are the details of the ALFA Network wifi adapter:
Colour: Black
Product Dimensions: 5.5L x 2.5W x 1H Centimeters
Data Transfer Rate: 433 Megabits Per Second
Cutting-Edge Network Performance: Provides data transfer speeds of up to 150Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 433Mbps on the 5GHz band.
Blazing Fast Speed for Streaming: it uses the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology.
Powerful Dual-Band 2.4/5GHz Antenna: Optimizes signal coverage for HD video streaming, online gaming, and file downloads. (dual-band 2dBi dipole antenna)
Convenient, Compact Design: Small external piece that plugs into any USB port without blocking other peripherals; includes a dock.
Compatible with All Operating Systems: Comprehensive driver support for Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Apple MacOS 10.4 to 10.12, Linux, and Kali Linux.
Supports Monitor Mode & Packet Injection
Driver: No need for an external driver.
3. ALFA Network Long-Range Dual-Band AC1200 USB 3.0 Wi-Fi Adapter
Another good product from Alpha. let's see what it makes best.
.jpg "ALFA Network Long-Range Dual-Band AC1200 USB 3.0 Wi-Fi Adapter")
Data Transfer Speeds:
- N 300Mbps for the 2.4GHz band.
- AC 867Mbps for the 5GHz band.
- It uses the MediaTek MT7612U Chipset.
Wide Range:
- Comes with 2 detachable 5dBi dual-band antennas (2.4GHz/5GHz).
Supports various operating systems:
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and Windows 10 (32/64-bit).
- Mac OSX 10.9 or later.
- Linux kernel 2.6 or later.
Wireless Security:
- Supports WEP 64-Bit, WEP 128-Bit, WPA-PSK, and WPA2-PSK.
ALFA AWUS036ACM Wi-Fi Adapter supports Monitor mode.
Driver: works fine; in case if not use this driver: https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au
4. TP-Link Nano USB WiFi Dongle (TL-WN722N)
So our next product is from tp-link. TP-Link is also a good brand name in this category. This is the cheapest on our list. now let's see what they offer in this.
.jpg "TP-Link Nano USB WiFi Dongle (TL-WN722N)")
Wireless Speed:
- Provides an exceptional wireless speed of up to 150Mbps.
- Ideal for video streaming and internet calls.
Antenna:
- Features a 4dBi detachable antenna that significantly strengthens signal power.
- The antenna can be rotated and adjusted to fit various environments.
Compatibility:
- Supports the following operating systems:
- Windows: 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP.
- Mac OS: 10.15 and earlier.
- Linux (Kernel 4.1 or later).
Wireless Standards:
Complies with IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, and IEEE 802.11b standards.
Dimensions:
Dimensions (W x D x H): 3.7 x 1.0 x 0.4 inches (93.5 x 26 x 11mm).
Wireless Security:
Supports 64/128 bit WEP, WPA-PSK, and WPA2-PSK.
And our main feature: TP-Link TL-WN722N Wi-Fi adapter supports monitor mode.
Driver: https://github.com/gglluukk/rtl8188eus
5. ALFA Network AWUS036NHA 150Mbps Wireless USB Adaptor
Again we have a product of Alfa. The ALFA Network AWUS036NHA is a powerful USB Wi-Fi adapter designed for superior performance. Here are the specifications:
Chipset: Atheros AR9271.
Wi-Fi Standards: Compliant with IEEE 802.11/b/g/n standards.
Frequency: Operates on the 2.4GHz frequency band.
Antenna Connector: Equipped with an RP-SMA female connector for external antennas.
Antenna Type: Comes with a 2.4GHz 5dBi dipole antenna.
Wireless Performance:
- 802.11b: Up to 11Mbps
- 802.11g: Up to 54Mbps
- 802.11n: Up to 150Mbps
Wireless Security: Supports WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA Mixed, and WPS.
Interface: USB 2.0 (Mini USB, type B female connector).
Operating System Compatibility: Works with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, and Linux.
Monitor mode support: Yes.
Driver: The AR9271 chipset is well-supported in Linux, so you don't need to manually install drivers.
So these are the wifi adapters I have tested with Kali Linux and all of them are compatible with Kali Linux. remember I have given drivers to use them if they don't work in monitor mode. here I am providing information on what is monitor mode and how you can set the wifi adapter to monitor mode.
What is Monitor Mode?
In Monitor mode, the packets that every system sends to the Wi-Fi are received by the system itself (the one with the Monitor mode of Wi-Fi), rather than by the Wi-Fi access point.
Essentially, all data passing through the network is intercepted by the device in Monitor mode, allowing you to analyze network traffic, sniff packets, and perform security-related tasks.
How to enable Monitor Mode in Kali Linux
Using airmon-ng (requires aircrack-ng)
Install aircrack-ng:
sudo apt-get install aircrack-ng
Check the interface:
sudo airmon-ng
Kill interfering processes:
sudo airmon-ng check kill
Put the interface into Monitor mode:
sudo airmon-ng start wlan0
A new interface (e.g., “wlan0mon”) will be created.
To revert to the original interface:
sudo airmon-ng stop wlan0mon
Final thoughts
so in this blog, I have told you the best 5 wifi adapters for Kali Linux used for network analysis and working on monitor mode. also, I have told you how you can set monitor mode on these adapters. you can buy any of them you like, I have told you which is best. now it depends on you which feature you need and what is your budget.
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