Customized Linux-based Red Team OS

 

Ultimate Guide: Setting Up a Stealthy Red Team OS

Goal: Build a stealthy, customized Linux-based Red Team OS that avoids detection by Blue Teams, SIEMs, IDS/IPS, and endpoint security solutions.

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Choose a Stealthy Base OS

Instead of using Kali Linux (which is easily detected), use:

✅ Ubuntu (Recommended) → More stable, not flagged as a hacking OS
✅ Debian (Stealth Mode) → Lightweight and customizable
✅ Arch Linux → Fully customized, but requires manual setup
✅ Whonix/Tails (For OPSEC) → For anonymous C2 operations

🛠 Setup: Install a minimal version of your chosen OS to reduce unnecessary packages.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y curl git wget

💬Here are my: Top 7 Base OS 

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Step 2: Hardening & Fingerprint Evasion

Change Hostname & System Metadata

Security teams track default Kali hostnames via DHCP, NetBIOS, and SMB logs.

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname Workstation-Ubuntu

Check hostname leaks:

cat /etc/hostname

💬 More about Hardening & Fingerprinting Evasion

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Change MAC Address (Anti-Tracking)

Use a randomized MAC address to avoid network detection.

sudo apt install macchanger  
sudo macchanger -r eth0

Auto-change MAC on boot:

sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

Add:

pre-up macchanger -r eth0

💬A detailed guide about Change MAC Address (Anti-Tracking)

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Hide User-Agent (Web Browsing & Tool Requests)

Web traffic leaks Kali fingerprints through default wget and curl.

Modify wget User-Agent:

echo "user_agent = Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64)" > ~/.wgetrc

Modify curl User-Agent:

alias curl='curl -A "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64)"'

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Hide Red Team Tools & Directories

Security teams scan for common pentesting tools in /usr/share/.

Move & Rename Tools:

sudo mv /usr/share/nmap /opt/.hidden_nmap
alias nmap='/opt/.hidden_nmap/nmap'

Create a Fake Directory Structure:

mkdir -p ~/Documents/Reports ~/Documents/Configs
mv ~/Tools ~/Documents/.hidden_tools

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Step 3: Install Essential Red Team Tools

C2 Frameworks (Command & Control)

Install Sliver (Open-Source Cobalt Strike Alternative)

curl https://sliver.sh/install | bash  
sliver-server

Install Mythic (Advanced C2 for Red Teaming

git clone https://github.com/its-a-feature/Mythic.git
cd Mythic && ./install.sh

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Post-Exploitation & Credential Dumping

Install Mimikatz (Windows Credential Dumping)

wget https://github.com/gentilkiwi/mimikatz/releases/latest/download/mimikatz_trunk.zip
unzip mimikatz_trunk.zip -d /opt/.hidden_mimikatz

Install CrackMapExec (AD Exploitation)

pip3 install crackmapexec

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Recon & Evasion Tools

Install BloodHound (AD Enumeration)

sudo apt install bloodhound neo4j

Install Evil-WinRM (Windows Remote Management Exploitation)

gem install evil-winrm

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Step 4: OPSEC & Anonymity

To avoid being tracked while performing Red Team ops:

Route Traffic Through Proxychains & Tor

sudo apt install tor proxychains4  
nano /etc/proxychains.conf

Uncomment:

dynamic_chain
socks5  127.0.0.1 9050

Start Tor:

sudo systemctl start tor

Run tools anonymously:

proxychains nmap -sS -Pn 192.168.1.1

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Use a VPN for Additional Anonymity

sudo apt install openvpn
sudo openvpn --config my_vpn.ovpn

💬 Read my Article Best VPNs with Proxychains

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Step 5: Test Your Stealth Setup

Test if your OS is leaking fingerprints using:

Am I Kali? (Detect if your OS looks like Kali)

curl -s https://amiunique.org | grep "Linux"

Check DNS Leaks

dig +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com

Check Hostname Leaks

cat /etc/hostname

Check MAC Address

ifconfig eth0 | grep ether

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🎯 Final Red Team Setup

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Summary

Ubuntu/Debian is stealthier than Kali
Change hostnames, MAC addresses, and fingerprints
Move tools out of standard directories
Use proxychains, Tor, and VPN for OPSEC -> VPNs + Proxychains
Test your setup with OS fingerprinting tools