Security distribution BackTrack 4 with CUDA support

The Remote Exploit Team has released a Pre Final version of the BackTrack 4 (BT4) security distribution (code named 'pwnsauce') as a 1.3 GB ISO image file. BackTrack offers a wide range of tools to enable users and administrators to test the security of items ranging from web applications to RFID systems. These include LAN and WLAN sniffers, password crackers, vulnerability scanners, the Metasploit exploit framework and several others.

For the first time, the distribution also includes support for accelerated password cracking with assistance from the latest graphics cards. The Pyrit WPA tool included with the distribution should support NVIDIA's CUDA. BackTrack 4 also includes Multihash CUDA Brute Forcer – the name says it all.

BackTrack has seen a few changes to the chassis since BackTrack 3 (BT3). BackTrack 4 is based on Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex and provides its own full repositories. These are also based on Ubuntu packages, but contain all required modifications. In the future, a simple apt-get update and apt-get upgrade will be sufficient to keep a system up to date. It's also easy to install additional applications, both when running from a LiveCD or when installed on a hard drive.

BT4 uses the 2.6.29.4 Linux kernel and, on the LiveCD, uses Advanced Multi Layered Unification Filesystem Version 2 (AUFS 2) as its file system in combination with the SquashFS kernel module. This makes the ISO image somewhat larger, but means that the developers no longer have to maintain their own kernel patches, as was the case in BT3 with its 'LZMA enabled SquashFS' file system. A description of some of the new functions and how to launch, install and get started with BT4 can be found in the BackTrack Guide.

(crve)