If you are new to Kali Linux & Pentesting it can be quite tricky to decide on the correct wireless adapter to use. Here we will give you an overview of the best compatible adapters for Linux.
All the adapters listed below are compatible with Linux out of the box. If your running a Virtual Environment such as a Virtual Machine you will need to make sure that wireless adapter is compatible with the host operating system.
If you require a long range a Wireless adapter consider buying a Wireless adapter with a high amount of Dbi it is used to define the gain of an antenna system relative to an isotropic radiator at radio frequencies.
When buying a Wifi Adapter consider the size of the card and how big the antennas are if you require stealth short range a smaller adapter may be the best option for you. For a good Wireless adapter with the right supported modes can vary from around $20-$30.
Mode compatibility:
Monitor mode: or RFMON (Radio Frequency MONitor) mode, allows a computer with a wireless network interface controller (WNIC) to monitor all traffic received from the wireless network. Unlike promiscuous mode, which is also used for packet sniffing, monitor mode allows packets to be captured without having to associate with an access point or ad hoc network first.
Master Mode: is a type of wireless mode that is often associated with Access Point or Base Station to provide network access.
A wireless chipset is a set of integrated circuit chips that perform the various functions required for the computer to communicate over a wireless network. Some chipset’s are better then others one of my favorite chipset is Realtek 8187L the most popular chipsets for Linux are Ralink PT3070, Atheros ARQZ71, RT3572 all these chipsets are really good for Linux compatibility.
Ralink PT3070
Atheros AR9271
Alfa Network AWUS036NHA + U-MOUNT-CS 5 DBi – Adaptador
TP-LINK TL-WN722N 150 Mbps High Gain Wireless USB Adapter – White
Ralink RT3572
ALFA Network AWUS051NH V2 (Version 2) 2.4/ 5GHz Dual Band USB WiFi Dongle with Detachable RP-SMA Antenna Ralink RT3572 Chipset
Realtek 8187
ALFA AWUS036H 54Mbp/s 2.4GHz USB WiFi Dongle with Detachable 5dBi RP-SMA Antenna