How to Install Zenmap in Kali Linux? Zenmap Installation Process

Zenmap is a free and open-source graphical user interface (GUI) for Nmap Security Scanner. It is available for Windows, Linux, MacOS X, BSD, and more operating systems. 

If you are a beginner, then use Zenmap because it makes the use of Nmap easier, while providing all the functionalities that professional Nmap users use. 

Here is the step-by-step process to install Zenmap on Kali Linux:

1. Update Kali Linux

Before Zenmap installation, it is highly recommended that you upgrade or update the packages index list in Kali Linux. For this, open a terminal and write the following command:

sudo apt update

To have a look at the packages available for update, write this command:

sudo apt list --upgradable

Now, you can easily update the packages on an individual basis with the sudo apt install PCKAGE_NAME. In order to update the entire system, run this command:

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

This will successfully update your Kali Linux system. 

Furthermore, if you are looking for an all-in-one command to update the Kali Linux system, use this:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

2. Download Latest Version of Zenmap

Once you have updated the Kali Linux, it is time to download Zenmap. For this, visit the official site of Nmap. 

Alternatively, you can download and install it using commands in the terminal:

wget https://nmap.org/dist/zenmap-7.91-1.noarch.rpm

3. Download & Install Essential Dependencies

To install and make the most out of Zenmap, you should download some dependencies as well. Run these commands to do so:

wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/p/pygtk/python-gtk2_2.24.0-5.1ubuntu2_amd64.deb

wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/p/pycairo/python-cairo_1.16.2-2ubuntu2_amd64.deb

wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/p/pygobject-2/python-gobject-2_2.28.6-14ubuntu1_amd64.deb

After downloading these, it is time to install the packages. In order to do this, make the .deb files executable by running the below command:

sudo chmod +777 <package-name>

Once the .deb files have become executable, run the below commands to install the Zenmap dependencies:

sudo apt install ./python-cairo_1.16.2-2ubuntu2_amd64.deb

sudo apt install ./python-gobject-2_2.28.6-14ubuntu1_amd64.deb

sudo apt install ./python-gtk2_2.24.0-5.1ubuntu2_amd64.deb

4. Convert Zenmap .rpm packages to .deb extension

The next step is the conversion of .rpm package lists to .deb extension. For this, you can use Alien Package, which is a computer program used to convert Linux package distribution files to Debian. Alien allows conversion of RPM, deb, slp, tgz, and Linux Standard Base. 

To install Alien, run this command:

sudo apt install alien

After installing Alient, now convert the .rpm package to .deb by running this command:

sudo alien --to-deb zenmap-7.91-1.noarch.rpm

5. Execute .deb Files

Once the .deb files are ready, you need to make them executable using the below command:

sudo chmod +777 zenmap_7.91-2_all.deb

Finally, run the following command to mark the competition of Zenmap installation:

sudo apt install ./zenmap_7.91-2_all.deb

Zenmap is now ready for use. You can get started with it by simply searching for it from the Search bar or running the command line.

Let's understand how to install Nmap and Zenmap quickly with this practical video: