Day 2: System Customization & Productivity Setup

Customize Your Parrot OS Like a Pro: Tools, Shortcuts & Tweaks

Parrot OS, a Debian-based Linux distribution tailored for cybersecurity professionals, offers a versatile platform that can be customized to enhance productivity and streamline workflows. On Day 2 of this 7-day learning series, we focus on transforming your Parrot OS environment into a highly efficient workspace. This article guides you through updating the system, installing essential productivity packages such as Visual Studio Code and Flameshot, configuring shell aliases and profiles (Bash or Zsh), and setting up shared folders and clipboard functionality in VirtualBox. These steps will optimize your Parrot OS setup for both cybersecurity tasks and general productivity, ensuring a seamless and professional user experience.

Updating the System

Keeping Parrot OS up to date is critical for security, performance, and access to the latest features and tools. The Debian-based apt package manager simplifies this process, ensuring that your system and its tools remain current.

Updating with apt

Regular updates refresh the package lists and upgrade installed software to their latest versions. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal: Launch the terminal using Ctrl + Alt + T or from the Parrot menu.
2. Update Package Lists:

   sudo apt update

   This command retrieves the latest package metadata from configured repositories, ensuring you have access to the newest software versions.
3. Upgrade Installed Packages:

   sudo apt upgrade

   This command installs the latest versions of all installed packages. If prompted, confirm any additional disk space requirements.
4. Optional: Full Upgrade:

   sudo apt full-upgrade

   This upgrades packages and resolves dependency changes, which may remove or install additional packages to maintain system consistency.
5. Clean Up:

   sudo apt autoremove
   sudo apt autoclean

   These commands remove unused packages and clean the package cache, freeing up disk space.

Best Practice: Perform these updates weekly or before major tasks to ensure your system is secure and up to date.

Outcome: Your Parrot OS system is fully updated, providing a stable foundation for further customization.

Installing Essential Packages

Parrot OS comes with a robust set of cybersecurity tools, but adding productivity software enhances its versatility. This section covers installing Visual Studio Code (VS Code) for coding and Flameshot for screenshots, both of which are valuable for documentation and development tasks.

Installing Visual Studio Code

VS Code is a lightweight, powerful code editor supporting multiple programming languages and extensions, ideal for scripting and analyzing cybersecurity tools.

1. Add Microsoft’s GPG Key:

   wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > packages.microsoft.gpg
   sudo install -o root -g root -m 644 packages.microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/
   sudo rm packages.microsoft.gpg

   This imports Microsoft’s key to verify the VS Code package.
2. Add the VS Code Repository:

   sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list'

   This adds the VS Code repository to your system’s sources.
3. Update and Install:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install code

   Update the package lists and install VS Code.
4. Verify Installation:

   code --version

   Launch VS Code from the terminal with code or via the Parrot menu.

Customization Tip: Install extensions like Python, ShellCheck, or Markdown Preview in VS Code to enhance functionality for cybersecurity scripting.

Installing Flameshot

Flameshot is an open-source screenshot tool with annotation features, perfect for documenting findings during security assessments.

1. Install Flameshot:

   sudo apt install flameshot

   This installs Flameshot from the Parrot repositories.
2. Configure a Shortcut:
   • In the MATE desktop, go to Menu > System > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts.
   • Add a new shortcut, name it “Flameshot,” and set the command to flameshot gui.
   • Assign a key combination (e.g., Print Screen).
3. Test Flameshot: Press the assigned shortcut to capture and annotate a screenshot.

Outcome: You have enhanced Parrot OS with productivity tools, streamlining coding and documentation tasks.

Configuring Aliases and Shell Profiles

Customizing your shell environment with aliases and profile settings can significantly boost productivity by simplifying repetitive commands. Parrot OS uses Bash by default, but Zsh is an alternative for advanced users.

Configuring Aliases in Bash

Aliases are shortcuts for frequently used commands, stored in the ~/.bashrc file.

1. Open the Bash Configuration:

   nano ~/.bashrc

   This opens the Bash configuration file in the Nano editor.
2. Add Aliases: Append the following lines to create useful shortcuts:

   alias up='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade'
   alias ll='ls -l'
   alias cl='clear'
   alias nscan='nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24'

   These aliases simplify updating the system, listing files, clearing the terminal, and scanning networks.
3. Apply Changes:

   source ~/.bashrc

   This reloads the configuration without restarting the terminal.
4. Test Aliases: Run up to update the system or ll to list files.

Switching to Zsh (Optional)

Zsh offers advanced features like auto-completion and theme support. To switch to Zsh:

1. Install Zsh:

   sudo apt install zsh

2. Set Zsh as Default Shell:

   chsh -s /bin/zsh

   Log out and log back in to use Zsh.
3. Install Oh My Zsh (for enhanced customization):

   sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

   This adds themes and plugins to Zsh.
4. Configure Aliases in Zsh:
   • Open ~/.zshrc with nano ~/.zshrc.
   • Add the same aliases as above or customize further.
   • Apply changes with source ~/.zshrc.

Outcome: Your shell environment is customized with shortcuts, enhancing command-line efficiency.

Setting Up Shared Folders and Clipboard in VirtualBox

If running Parrot OS in VirtualBox, configuring shared folders and clipboard sharing enables seamless integration with your host system, facilitating file transfers and copy-paste functionality.

Installing VirtualBox Guest Additions

Guest Additions are required for shared folders and clipboard functionality.

1. Insert Guest Additions CD:
   • In VirtualBox, select Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
   • If the CD does not mount, download the ISO from www.virtualbox.org and mount it manually.
2. Install Dependencies:

   sudo apt install -y build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

   This installs tools needed to compile Guest Additions.
3. Run the Installer:

   sudo sh /media/$USER/VBox_GAs_*/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

   Replace $USER with your username and * with the version number.
4. Reboot:

   sudo reboot

Configuring Shared Folders

1. Create a Shared Folder:
   • In VirtualBox, select the VM > Settings > Shared Folders.
   • Click the “+” icon, select a folder on the host (e.g., C:\Shared), and name it (e.g., SharedFolder).
   • Enable “Auto-mount” and “Make Permanent.”
2. Add User to vboxsf Group:

   sudo usermod -aG vboxsf $USER

   This grants access to shared folders.
3. Access the Shared Folder: After rebooting, find the folder in /media/sf_SharedFolder.

Enabling Clipboard Sharing

1. Enable Bidirectional Clipboard:
   • In VirtualBox, select Devices > Shared Clipboard > Bidirectional.
2. Test Clipboard: Copy text on the host and paste it in Parrot OS (e.g., in a terminal or text editor).

Outcome: Your VirtualBox setup supports seamless file and clipboard sharing, enhancing workflow integration.

Practical Exercise

1. Update Parrot OS using sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.
2. Install VS Code and Flameshot, then capture a screenshot of VS Code.
3. Create three aliases in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc and test them.
4. Set up a shared folder in VirtualBox and transfer a file from the host.
5. Enable bidirectional clipboard sharing and paste text from the host into Parrot OS.

Conclusion

Day 2 of this 7-day series has empowered you to customize Parrot OS for maximum productivity. By updating the system, installing essential tools like VS Code and Flameshot, configuring shell aliases, and setting up VirtualBox shared folders and clipboard, you have created an efficient and personalized environment. These enhancements streamline cybersecurity workflows and prepare you for advanced tool exploration in subsequent days. Continue experimenting with customizations and prepare for Day 3, where you will dive into penetration testing with tools like Metasploit.

Next Steps:

• Explore additional VS Code extensions for cybersecurity tasks.
• Customize your shell with themes or plugins via Oh My Zsh.
• Engage with cybersecurity communities on platforms like X to share tips and learn from others.