alfa WiFi adapter : How To enable and install Alfa AWUS036ACH Driver in Kali Linux

To enable and install an Alfa WiFi adapter in Kali Linux, follow this step-by-step guide. The Alfa WiFi adapters generally use Realtek or Ralink chipsets, which require specific drivers to work properly. The guide will help you ensure that Kali Linux detects the adapter and that you install the necessary drivers.

Step 1: Plug in the Alfa WiFi Adapter

1. Insert the USB WiFi adapter into your computer’s USB port.
2. Open a terminal and type the following command to check if Kali Linux detects the adapter:

• lsusb

Look for an entry that corresponds to your Alfa WiFi adapter. You should see something like:

Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0bda:8187 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.

Step 2: Check for Wireless Interface

1. To check if your WiFi interface is recognized, use the following command:

• ifconfig OR ip link show

1. Look for an interface like wlan0 or wlan1. If you see it, the adapter is detected.

Step 3: Install Required Drivers

1. Kali Linux often comes with many wireless drivers pre-installed. However, for some Alfa adapters, you may need to install specific drivers, especially for Realtek or Ralink chipsets.
2. Install Realtek Drivers (if required):
   • First, update your system:

• sudo apt update
• sudo apt upgrade

Install the necessary packages:

sudo apt install realtek-rtl88xxau-dkms

If your Alfa adapter uses a different chipset (like RTL8187), you might need a different driver. You can check the chipset by running:

lsusb

and match it with a driver. For example, for RTL8187, you may need to install:

sudo apt install firmware-realtek

Install Ralink Drivers (if using a Ralink chipset):

• For Ralink chipsets, the drivers are usually included in the firmware-misc-nonfree package.

• sudo apt install firmware-misc-nonfree

Step 4: Reboot Your System

1. After installing the drivers, reboot your system to ensure all changes take effect:

• sudo reboot

Step 5: Verify the Installation

1. After rebooting, check if the Alfa WiFi adapter is working by listing network interfaces:

• ifconfig OR ip link show

You can also use iwconfig to check wireless interfaces:

iwconfig

1. If you see an interface like wlan0 with wireless information, your adapter is successfully installed.

Step 6: Enable Monitor Mode (Optional)

1. If you want to enable monitor mode for wireless penetration testing, use the following commands:
   • First, bring the interface down:

• sudo ifconfig wlan0 down and Enable monitor mode: sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode monitor next Bring the interface back up: sudo ifconfig wlan0 up

1. You can now use the Alfa WiFi adapter for packet injection and other security tests.

Step 7: Troubleshooting

1. No WiFi Adapter Detected:
   • Ensure the correct drivers are installed for your chipset.
   • Check if the adapter is being detected via lsusb.
   • If it’s not working, you may need to manually download the driver from GitHub or the manufacturer’s website and compile it.
2. Driver Issues:
   • If the adapter isn’t functioning, search for specific drivers related to the chipset (e.g., RTL8812AU, RTL8187, etc.) and install from repositories or compile from source.
3. Compile Drivers Manually (if necessary):
   • If the default package doesn’t work, you may need to download and compile drivers manually from GitHub. For example:

• sudo apt install build-essential dkms
• git clone https://github.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au.git
• cd rtl8812au
• sudo make
• sudo make install

By following these steps, you should be able to get your Alfa WiFi adapter working in Kali Linux.