I was wondering what the best linux distro would be for hacking. I know of backtrack, which i am downloading as i type, but i would like to know if there are any other compact, preferably live boot, distros that are worth taking a look at. By hacking, in this context, I am referring to "blackhat" hacking. The distro, i would hope, may include some of the tools, or derivitives thereof, from NetTools (a windows app that i have been using for a while). I've used linux (Ubuntu 8.1) periodically, so i have a general grasp of how to use linux... aka: i'm not (overly, anyways) a linux noob. Thanks in advance, and happy holidays. Shawn

Are you looking primarily for network security type Live CDs? Check out http://www.darknet.org.uk/2006/03/10-best-security-live-cd-distros-pen-test-forensics-recovery/ for a list of network and recovery CDs. Backtrack is right at the top of their list, so you are on the right track. The author mentions both KNOPPIX-STD and KNOPPIX itself, from which he claims many of the alternatives either got much of their technology or their roots.

There is a network security live distro made for blackhat hackers: OWL (Open Wall Linux). It's very secure, stable and comes bundled with a plethora of security related utilities.