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BackTrack
BackTrack is a Linux distribution distributed as a LiveDistro that results from the merger of [http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=whoppix WHAX] and Kanotix-based Auditor Security Collection. It takes advantage of SLAX's modular design and structure to enable "the user to include personal scripts, additional tools, customised kernels" in personalized distros.
WHAX, a name derived from 'White hat' and SLAX, was a distribution designed for security tasks. WHAX emerged from Whoppix, a Knoppix-based security distro. When Whoppix reached version 3.0 it was renamed as WHAX, to reflect the change of parent distribution from Knoppix to SLAX. Customized by Mati Aharoni, an Israeli security consultant, WHAX made its mark in penetration testing. WHAX made it possible to test and verify the security of a network from many computers located in various places.
Max Moser's Auditor Security Collection—"The Swiss Army Knife for security assessments"—was focused as well on Linux-based penetration tests. The overlap with WHAX in purpose and tools collection partly led to the merger. Auditor featured well-laid-out menus for its collection of over 300 tools for troubleshooting, network- and systems-fortifying. Its user-friendliness resulted in enhanced usability for penetration testing.
The project released its first non-beta version (1.0) on May 26, 2006.
BackTrack v2.0 Public Beta Edition was released on Friday, October 13, 2006.
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