How to Install and Use Parrot Hack the Box Edition

Parrot Hack the Box Edition is an operating system designed for penetration testing and cyber security tasks. In this guide, we will show you how to get up and running with the Parrot Hack the Box Edition VM without spending hours to go into exactly how everything works.

Step 1: Download and Install Parrot Hack the Box Edition

The first step is to download and install Parrot. This can be done from the official website.

Step 2: Install Ansible with Pip

Once you have Parrot installed, the next step is to install Ansible with Pip. Run the following command:

pip3 install ansible

It's important to note that using "apt" to install Ansible will install an older version. Using Pip ensures that you have the most up-to-date version and won't cause the Playbook to fail.

Step 3: Clone the Parrot Build Repo

Head over to the Parrot Dash build repo on GitHub and clone it to your local machine.

Step 4: Install Third-Party Modules with Ansible Galaxy

Navigate to the cloned repo and run the following command:

ansible-galaxy install -r requirements.yaml
sudo whoami

This will install some third-party modules that allow a Playbook to work.

Step 5: Run the Main YAML Playbook

Finally, run the following command to execute the main YAML Playbook:

ansible-playbook main.yaml

This Playbook will make all the customizations for you, including configuring Tmux, copying the Bash RC, and installing packages. It's essentially on autopilot from here.

You can visit the building Parrot playlist on the author's YouTube channel to see exactly how everything works.

Benefits of Using Ansible with Parrot

Using Ansible with Parrot has many benefits, including:

• Data isolation when starting over with a new OS
• Keeps tools working correctly and updated
• Easy ability to make small changes to things
• Ability to run the Playbook multiple times without creating any issues
• Saves time and speeds up the process of configuring everything correctly

Conclusion

If you're planning on using Parrot Hack the Box Edition for penetration testing or other cyber security tasks, Ansible is an excellent tool to use alongside it. The automation and ease of use make it a valuable addition to any security professional's toolkit. Plus, with the steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly get started with Parrot without spending hours configuring everything yourself.