BackTrack is a Linux-based penetration testing arsenal that aids security professionals in the ability to perform assessments in a purely native environment dedicated to hacking. Regardless if you’re making BackTrack your primary operating system, booting from a LiveDVD, or using your favorite thumbdrive, BackTrack has been customized down to every package, kernel configuration, script and patch solely for the purpose of the penetration tester.

BackTrack is intended for all audiences from the most savvy security professionals to early newcomers to the information security field. BackTrack promotes a quick and easy way to find and update the largest database of security tool collection to-date.

Our community of users range from skilled penetration testers in the information security field, government entities, information technology, security enthusiasts, and individuals new to the security community. Feedback from all industries and skill levels allows us to truly develop a solution that is tailored towards everyone and far exceeds anything ever developed both commercially and freely available.

Whether you’re hacking wireless, exploiting servers, learning, performing a web application assessment, or social-engineering a client, BackTrack is the one-stop-shop for all of your security needs.

The evolution of BackTrack spans many years of development, penetration tests, and unprecedented help from the security community. BackTrack originally started with earlier versions of live Linux distributions called Whoppix, IWHAX, and Auditor. When BackTrack was developed, it was designed and developed by seasoned security professionals to perform penetration testing from one live CD and not leave remnants of the on the laptop itself. It has since expanded to being the most widely adopted penetration testing framework in existence and is used by the security community all over the world.

What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]

· BackTrack 4 Final is out and along with this release come some exciting news, updates, and developments. BackTrack 4 has been a long and steady road, with the release of abeta last year, we decided to hold off on releasing BackTrack 4 Final until it was perfected in every way shape and form.

· With this release includes a new kernel, a larger and expanded toolset repository, custom tools that you can only find on BackTrack, and more importantly, fixes to all (well, most..) major bugs that we knew of. This release we received an overwhelming support from the community and we are grateful to everyone that has contributed to the success of this release.

· We’ve moved BackTrack to a dedicated home, where you will be able to keep updated with the development status and latest news. Our goal was to finally produce a focused and dedicated security Linux distribution that has its own resources, personnel, and drive that have dedication in making BackTrack better than it has ever been.