90+ Vital Linux Commands for IT Professionals and Ethical Hackers

This article provides a comprehensive list of over 90 essential Linux commands tailored for IT professionals, system administrators, and ethical hackers. These commands are crucial for improving Linux skills and enhancing productivity in cybersecurity tasks.

Practice-Verified Commands and Codes

1. File Management:

ls -la: List all files in a directory, including hidden ones.
cp file1 file2: Copy `file1` to file2.
mv file1 dir/: Move `file1` to dir/.
rm -rf dir/: Remove a directory and its contents forcefully.

2. System Monitoring:

top: Display real-time system processes.
htop: Interactive process viewer (install via sudo apt install htop).
df -h: Check disk space usage in human-readable format.
free -m: Display memory usage in MB.

3. Networking:

ifconfig: Display network interface configurations.
ping google.com: Check connectivity to a host.
netstat -tuln: List all open ports and listening services.
ssh user@remote_host: Connect to a remote host via SSH.

4. Security and Permissions:

chmod 755 file: Change file permissions to rwxr-xr-x.
chown user:group file: Change file ownership.
sudo iptables -L: List all iptables rules.
sudo ufw enable: Enable the Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW).

5. Package Management:

sudo apt update: Update package lists.
sudo apt upgrade: Upgrade installed packages.
sudo apt install package_name: Install a package.
sudo apt remove package_name: Remove a package.

6. Text Processing:

grep "pattern" file: Search for a pattern in a file.
awk '{print $1}' file: Print the first column of a file.
sed 's/old/new/g' file: Replace all occurrences of `old` with `new` in a file.

7. Process Management:

ps aux: Display all running processes.
kill -9 PID: Forcefully terminate a process by its PID.
pkill process_name: Kill a process by its name.

8. Archiving and Compression:

tar -czvf archive.tar.gz dir/: Create a compressed tar archive.
tar -xzvf archive.tar.gz: Extract a compressed tar archive.
zip archive.zip file1 file2: Create a ZIP archive.

9. User Management:

sudo adduser username: Add a new user.
sudo deluser username: Delete a user.
sudo passwd username: Change a user’s password.

10. Logs and Auditing:

tail -f /var/log/syslog: Monitor system logs in real-time.
journalctl -xe: View systemd logs with detailed output.
last: Display the last logged-in users.

What Undercode Say

Linux commands are the backbone of system administration, cybersecurity, and ethical hacking. Mastering these commands not only enhances your efficiency but also deepens your understanding of system internals. For instance, commands like `netstat` and `iptables` are indispensable for network security, while `grep` and `awk` are powerful tools for log analysis.

In cybersecurity, tools like `nmap` for network scanning (nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24) and `tcpdump` for packet analysis (sudo tcpdump -i eth0) are essential. For Windows users transitioning to Linux, commands like `wsl` (Windows Subsystem for Linux) can bridge the gap. Additionally, scripting with Bash (#!/bin/bash) automates repetitive tasks, making workflows more efficient.

For further learning, explore resources like Linux Command Library and Kali Linux Documentation. These platforms offer in-depth tutorials and command references for both beginners and advanced users.

Remember, ethical hacking and cybersecurity require a strong foundation in Linux. Commands like chmod, chown, and `sudo` are critical for maintaining system security. Always use these tools responsibly and within legal boundaries.

By integrating these commands into your daily workflow, you can streamline tasks, secure systems, and troubleshoot issues effectively. Whether you’re managing servers, analyzing logs, or securing networks, Linux commands are your ultimate toolkit.

Relevant URLs:

References:

Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI