How to Enable USB in Kali Linux VirtualBox

Enabling USB support in VirtualBox can be a crucial step for users who want to transfer data between virtual machines or connect external devices to their guest OS. If you're using Kali Linux as your guest OS, this tutorial will walk you through the process of enabling USB support in VirtualBox.

First, make sure you have the latest version of VirtualBox installed on your host machine. If you already have an older version, remove it with the command `sudo apt purge virtualbox` before installing the latest one.

Once you have the latest version installed, you'll need to install the VirtualBox Extension Pack, which includes USB support among other features. The Guest Additions are also necessary for improving performance and compatibility in your guest OS.

To enable USB support, you'll need two main tools: the VirtualBox Extension Pack and Guest Additions. Don't worry; the process isn't challenging, but it does require some knowledge of what to look for.

In this tutorial, we'll be using VirtualBox 5.2 on an Elementary OS host (based on Ubuntu) to demonstrate the process. For those who need USB working on their VirtualBox, follow along and you'll be able to share data via USB in no time.

Why would you want or need USB support with VirtualBox? What if you need to back up data to an external drive or transfer data between virtual machines that aren't on the same subnet? Having the ability to easily share data via USB can make VirtualBox a significantly easier VM solution. Unfortunately, USB doesn't work out of the box in VirtualBox, but it's easy enough to enable.

To start, install the Guest Additions in your Kali Linux guest OS by following these steps:

* Open the VirtualBox manager and select your Kali Linux virtual machine.

* Click on 'Settings' and then 'Devices'.

* Select 'USB' and ensure that the 'Enable USB controller' option is selected.

* Click 'OK' to save the changes.

Next, you'll need to install the VirtualBox Extension Pack. You can download it from the official Oracle website or use a package manager like apt-get.

Once you have installed the Extension Pack, restart your virtual machine to apply the changes. Your Kali Linux guest OS should now be able to access USB devices connected to your host machine.

That's it! With these simple steps, you should now be able to enable USB support in your Kali Linux VirtualBox. This will allow you to transfer data between virtual machines or connect external devices to your guest OS.

Remember that enabling USB support in VirtualBox requires a few extra steps, but the benefits are well worth the effort. If you're using VirtualBox and need USB support, follow this tutorial and you'll be all set.

Kali linux virtualbox usb