Kicksecure for Windows, macOS, Linux inside VirtualBox

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Kicksecure can be installed inside of VirtualBox. Here are detailed instructions.

GUI

Kicksecure Xfce in VirtualBox

• Kicksecure with Xfce graphical user interface (GUI).
• This version of Kicksecure is designed to run inside VirtualBox.
• Beginner-friendly and easy to use.
• It is the right choice for most users.

Please follow these steps to install Kicksecure Xfce for VirtualBox.

This page is fully functional without JavaScript, but enabling JavaScript significantly enhances the user experience.

1 Download Kicksecure Xfce

Kicksecure Xfce is available for Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Download Kicksecure Xfce for VirtualBox (FREE!)

Optional: Digital signature verification.

Version: 17.2.8.5

• Digital signatures are a tool enhancing download security. They are commonly used across the internet and nothing special to worry about.
• Optional, not required: Digital signatures are optional and not mandatory for using Kicksecure, but an extra security measure for advanced users. If you've never used them before, it might be overwhelming to look into them at this stage. Just ignore them for now.
• Learn more: Curious? If you are interested in becoming more familiar with advanced computer security concepts, you can learn more about digital signatures here digital software signatures.

Choose your verification method below. This step requires that you have already downloaded Kicksecure Xfce.

OpenPGP

OpenPGP Signature

---

Download Kicksecure OpenPGP Key

signify

SHA-512 checksum file

---

SHA-512 checksum file signify signature

---

Download Kicksecure signify Key

How to verify the Kicksecure Images : Kicksecure virtual machine images are signed by Kicksecure developer Patrick Schleizer using OpenPGP and signify.

Do you already know how to perform digital software verification using an OpenPGP and/or signify key?

YES Then acquire the Kicksecure Signing Key and the Kicksecure signatures straight away and proceed.

NO Then consider the following instructions:

For Linux

For Windows

For macOS

2 Install VirtualBox

Download and install VirtualBox for your operating system.

Windows

Download VirtualBox for Windows (FREE!)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package

If you see the following error message:

Figure: Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package Error

Oracle VM VirtualBox needs Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable package installed first. Please install and restart the installation of Oracle VM VirtualBox.

Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package must be installed.

Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package (FREE!)

Optional: Digital signature verification.

VirtualBox for Windows is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is signed with authenticode.

After downloading the VirtualBox installer exe and starting it, the user should verify that sure that Verified publisher: is Oracle Corporation.

Figure: Windows signature signature verification window for VirtualBox

Advanced users might wish to learn more about Authenticode (Windows Digital Software Signatures) to perform a deeper verification.

macOS

Download VirtualBox for macOS (FREE!)

Optional: Digital signature verification.

VirtualBox for macOS is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is notarized for macOS's gatekeeper.

See also Apple's official documentation Safely open apps on your Mac.

Ubuntu

For Ubuntu host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).

A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Ubuntu users could alternatively use the Kicksecure Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.

B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.

Tested on October 2022 using Ubuntu version 22.04. Older versions are not recommended.

Command Line (All Users)

1 On the host : Open a terminal.

2 Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-generic

4 Add your current user to group vboxusers.

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

5 Done.

The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.

Software Center (only if not using SecureBoot)

Ubuntu Software Center can be used to install VirtualBox. The process is similar to installation of most other applications.

This only works for users with computers that do not have "SecureBoot" enabled. If the user's computer is using "SecureBoot" the user need to either disable "SecureBoot" in the BIOS or use the command line based instructions.

1 Open the start menu.

2 Click on the Ubuntu Software Center icon.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center icon

3 Click on the magnifying glass to search. → Type virtualbox. → Press enter. → In the search results, click on VirtualBox.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - Search For VirtualBox

4 Click on Install and wait.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center Search Result

5 Installation of VirtualBox has been completed.

When the installation has completed, the install icon changes to the uninstall icon. Do not click the uninstall button.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - VirtualBox has been installed

6 Click on Show Applications. → Click on Virtual Box start the VirtualBox graphical user interface (GUI).

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center #4

7 Done.

The procedure of installing and starting VirtualBox is complete.

Debian

For Debian host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).

A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Debian users could alternatively use the Kicksecure Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.

B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.

Select your Debian release below to get the matching instructions.

Debian bookworm (stable) or bullseye (oldstable)

To acquire the Recommended VirtualBox version tested with Kicksecure, package virtualbox-qt should be installed from Debian fasttrack repository according to the following instructions.

1 On the host : Open a terminal.

2 Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

3 Install the Debian fasttrack signing key.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends fasttrack-archive-keyring

4 Add the Debian fasttrack repository.

echo 'deb https://fasttrack.debian.net/debian/ bookworm-fasttrack main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/fasttrack.list

5 Add Debian the backports repository.

echo 'deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list

6 Update the package lists again.

sudo apt update

7 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)

8 Add your current user to group vboxusers.

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

9 Done.

The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.

Debian Testing

VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid) repository and APT pinning. The details of this are unspecific to Kicksecure and undocumented.

Debian Unstable

VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid) repository.

sudo apt update

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

The details of this are unspecific to Kicksecure and undocumented.

Other Debian Releases

Other Debian releases might work, but this is untested. In case of other Debian release:

See also "Linux host operating systems" below.

See also "Linux" on the right.

Kicksecure

Kicksecure host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).

A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Kicksecure users could alternatively use the Kicksecure Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.

B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.

Instructions for Kicksecure are simpler than instructions for Debian.

1 On the host: Open a terminal.

2 Update package lists.

sudo apt update

3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt

4 Add your current user to group vboxusers.

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

5 Done.

The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.

Linux

Hosts using a non-Debian operating system:

• Install VirtualBox as per the normal mechanism for your Linux distribution. No special instructions for Kicksecure are required. The installation of a recent VirtualBox host software is unspecific to Kicksecure. Consult the documentation of your Linux distribution.
• Kicksecure has has been tested with, expects VirtualBox version latest.
• For example the outdated VirtualBox version 5.2.18 is incompatible.

General recommendations for users using Linux as a host operating system:

Linux kernel version:

• The recommended host Linux kernel version is the same version that Debian bookworm is using, see linux-image-amd64.
• Newer host Linux kernel versions are likely to break VirtualBox VMs in many ways since these are unsupported by VirtualBox.

Host operating system. The recommended host Linux distributions are:

• preferably the stable version of Kicksecure 17, or
• Debian Linux version bookworm.

3 Import Kicksecure into VirtualBox

For Kicksecure VirtualBox import instructions, please press the learn more button on the right.

Follow these steps to import Kicksecure into VirtualBox. Click images to enlarge

• 
  1 Start VirtualBox
• 
  2 Click on File then choose Import Appliance...
• 
  3 Navigate and select Kicksecure image and press next
• 
  4 Do NOT change anything! Just click on Import
• 
  5 Then press Agree
• 
  6 Wait until Kicksecure .ova has been imported
• 
  7 Now start Kicksecure

Miscellaneous

There are also Video Tutorials.

If you still need help, please check the Support page.

For optional, alternative command line import instructions, see VirtualBox, manual VM import.

4 Start Kicksecure

Start VirtualBox → Double-click Kicksecure.

5 Support the Future of Kicksecure

Kicksecure is made possible thanks to the donation of people like you.

Please support the Kicksecure development with a donation.

Donate to Kicksecure

CLI

Kicksecure CLI in VirtualBox

• Kicksecure with command line interface (CLI).
• This version of Kicksecure is designed to run inside VirtualBox.
• Kicksecure with CLI is a version suited for advanced users -- those who want Kicksecure without a graphical user interface (GUI). Everyone else should install the user-friendly Kicksecure VirtualBox with GUI Xfce.

Please follow these steps to install Kicksecure CLI for VirtualBox.

This page is fully functional without JavaScript, but enabling JavaScript significantly enhances the user experience.

1 Download Kicksecure CLI

Kicksecure CLI is available for Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Download Kicksecure CLI for VirtualBox (FREE!)

Optional: Digital signature verification.

Version: 17.2.8.5

• Digital signatures are a tool enhancing download security. They are commonly used across the internet and nothing special to worry about.
• Optional, not required: Digital signatures are optional and not mandatory for using Kicksecure, but an extra security measure for advanced users. If you've never used them before, it might be overwhelming to look into them at this stage. Just ignore them for now.
• Learn more: Curious? If you are interested in becoming more familiar with advanced computer security concepts, you can learn more about digital signatures here digital software signatures.

Choose your verification method below. This step requires that you have already downloaded Kicksecure CLI.

OpenPGP

OpenPGP Signature

---

Download Kicksecure OpenPGP Key

signify

SHA-512 checksum file

---

SHA-512 checksum file signify signature

---

Download Kicksecure signify Key

How to verify the Kicksecure Images : Kicksecure virtual machine images are signed by Kicksecure developer Patrick Schleizer using OpenPGP and signify.

Do you already know how to perform digital software verification using an OpenPGP and/or signify key?

YES Then acquire the Kicksecure Signing Key and the Kicksecure signatures straight away and proceed.

NO Then consider the following instructions:

For Linux

For Windows

For macOS

2 Install VirtualBox

Download and install VirtualBox for your operating system.

Windows

Download VirtualBox for Windows (FREE!)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package

If you see the following error message:

Figure: Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package Error

Oracle VM VirtualBox needs Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable package installed first. Please install and restart the installation of Oracle VM VirtualBox.

Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package must be installed.

Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package (FREE!)

Optional: Digital signature verification.

VirtualBox for Windows is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is signed with authenticode.

After downloading the VirtualBox installer exe and starting it, the user should verify that sure that Verified publisher: is Oracle Corporation.

Figure: Windows signature signature verification window for VirtualBox

Advanced users might wish to learn more about Authenticode (Windows Digital Software Signatures) to perform a deeper verification.

macOS

Download VirtualBox for macOS (FREE!)

Optional: Digital signature verification.

VirtualBox for macOS is not signed with OpenPGP / gpg. It is notarized for macOS's gatekeeper.

See also Apple's official documentation Safely open apps on your Mac.

Ubuntu

For Ubuntu host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).

A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Ubuntu users could alternatively use the Kicksecure Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.

B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.

Tested on October 2022 using Ubuntu version 22.04. Older versions are not recommended.

Command Line (All Users)

1 On the host : Open a terminal.

2 Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-generic

4 Add your current user to group vboxusers.

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

5 Done.

The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.

Software Center (only if not using SecureBoot)

Ubuntu Software Center can be used to install VirtualBox. The process is similar to installation of most other applications.

This only works for users with computers that do not have "SecureBoot" enabled. If the user's computer is using "SecureBoot" the user need to either disable "SecureBoot" in the BIOS or use the command line based instructions.

1 Open the start menu.

2 Click on the Ubuntu Software Center icon.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center icon

3 Click on the magnifying glass to search. → Type virtualbox. → Press enter. → In the search results, click on VirtualBox.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - Search For VirtualBox

4 Click on Install and wait.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center Search Result

5 Installation of VirtualBox has been completed.

When the installation has completed, the install icon changes to the uninstall icon. Do not click the uninstall button.

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center - VirtualBox has been installed

6 Click on Show Applications. → Click on Virtual Box start the VirtualBox graphical user interface (GUI).

Figure: Ubuntu Software Center #4

7 Done.

The procedure of installing and starting VirtualBox is complete.

Debian

For Debian host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).

A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Debian users could alternatively use the Kicksecure Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.

B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.

Select your Debian release below to get the matching instructions.

Debian bookworm (stable) or bullseye (oldstable)

To acquire the Recommended VirtualBox version tested with Kicksecure, package virtualbox-qt should be installed from Debian fasttrack repository according to the following instructions.

1 On the host : Open a terminal.

2 Update the package lists.

sudo apt update

3 Install the Debian fasttrack signing key.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends fasttrack-archive-keyring

4 Add the Debian fasttrack repository.

echo 'deb https://fasttrack.debian.net/debian/ bookworm-fasttrack main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/fasttrack.list

5 Add Debian the backports repository.

echo 'deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-backports main contrib non-free' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list

6 Update the package lists again.

sudo apt update

7 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)

8 Add your current user to group vboxusers.

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

9 Done.

The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.

Debian Testing

VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid) repository and APT pinning. The details of this are unspecific to Kicksecure and undocumented.

Debian Unstable

VirtualBox can be installed by adding the Debian unstable (sid) repository.

sudo apt update

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt linux-headers-$(dpkg --print-architecture)

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

The details of this are unspecific to Kicksecure and undocumented.

Other Debian Releases

Other Debian releases might work, but this is untested. In case of other Debian release:

See also "Linux host operating systems" below.

See also "Linux" on the right.

Kicksecure

Kicksecure host operating systems Choose an option from the following table. Choose either Option (A) OR Option (B).

A Automated VirtualBox Installation : Kicksecure users could alternatively use the Kicksecure Linux Installer for VirtualBox. In this case, this wiki page can be completely ignored. No other steps from this wiki page need to be applied because the automated installer will handle everything.

B Manual VirtualBox Installation : Follow the instructions below.

Instructions for Kicksecure are simpler than instructions for Debian.

1 On the host: Open a terminal.

2 Update package lists.

sudo apt update

3 Install VirtualBox and Linux kernel headers.

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends virtualbox-qt

4 Add your current user to group vboxusers.

sudo adduser $(whoami) vboxusers

5 Done.

The procedure of installing the VirtualBox host software is complete.

Linux

Hosts using a non-Debian operating system:

• Install VirtualBox as per the normal mechanism for your Linux distribution. No special instructions for Kicksecure are required. The installation of a recent VirtualBox host software is unspecific to Kicksecure. Consult the documentation of your Linux distribution.
• Kicksecure has has been tested with, expects VirtualBox version latest.
• For example the outdated VirtualBox version 5.2.18 is incompatible.

General recommendations for users using Linux as a host operating system:

Linux kernel version:

• The recommended host Linux kernel version is the same version that Debian bookworm is using, see linux-image-amd64.
• Newer host Linux kernel versions are likely to break VirtualBox VMs in many ways since these are unsupported by VirtualBox.

Host operating system. The recommended host Linux distributions are:

• preferably the stable version of Kicksecure 17, or
• Debian Linux version bookworm.

3 Import Kicksecure into VirtualBox

For Kicksecure VirtualBox import instructions, please press the learn more button on the right.

Follow these steps to import Kicksecure into VirtualBox. Click images to enlarge

• 
  1 Start VirtualBox
• 
  2 Click on File then choose Import Appliance...
• 
  3 Navigate and select Kicksecure image and press next
• 
  4 Do NOT change anything! Just click on Import
• 
  5 Then press Agree
• 
  6 Wait until Kicksecure .ova has been imported
• 
  7 Now start Kicksecure

Miscellaneous

There are also Video Tutorials.

If you still need help, please check the Support page.

For optional, alternative command line import instructions, see VirtualBox, manual VM import.

4 Start Kicksecure

Start VirtualBox → Double-click Kicksecure.

5 Support the Future of Kicksecure

Kicksecure is made possible thanks to the donation of people like you.

Please support the Kicksecure development with a donation.

Donate to Kicksecure

First Time User / Questions and Answers

First Time User / Questions and Answers

• Default username: user
• Default password: No password required. (Passwordless login.)

Warning:

If you have no idea how Kicksecure works, then read the Design and Goals, Kicksecure Limitations and Tips on Remaining Safe pages to decide whether Kicksecure is the right tool for you based on its limitations.

• Can I combine Kicksecure CLI with Kicksecure Xfce? Yes, you can! Learn more.
• Why use VirtualBox over KVM?
• Why use VirtualBox over Qubes?
• FAQ

See Also

See Also

• Documentation
• Follow Kicksecure Developments
• In case of issues, see VirtualBox Troubleshooting.

For additional VirtualBox guides and information, please press on expand on the right.

• Known Issues
• VirtualBox Troubleshooting
• VirtualBox Guest Additions
• VirtualBox Clipboard Sharing
• VirtualBox Shared Folder
• VirtualBox Hardening
• Installing Newer Versions of VirtualBox

Help Wanted

• Work on the VirtualBox development task list.

Footnotes

Footnotes

Kicksecure A secure by default operating system with the latest security research in place.

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