USB Wi-Fi adapters with support for monitor mode and wireless injections

5 May 2023 6 minutes Author: Cyber Witcher

The best Wi-Fi adapter for Kali Linux

As has been said many times, there is no “best Wi-Fi adapter for wardriving”. Sometimes we need to work stealthily and we need a tiny Wi-Fi whistle, sometimes we work in the “concrete jungle” and we need the most powerful and sensitive device with large antennas. Some of us live in areas where there is an abundance of 5.0GHz ac Hotspots, but in some places there are simply no 5.0GHz hotspots. Someone can easily afford to spend 50 dollars, and someone is looking for cheap adapters on the secondary market. Our tasks are different, our environment is different, and the best Wi-Fi adapter for us will also be different devices. There may be nuances depending on the selected chipset. The Realtek chipset has problems (resolved) with WPS attacks, while the Atheros chipset appears to be unable to capture PMKID. False: At least the Alfa AWUS036NHA (chipset: Atheros AR9271) can catch PMKID (for attacks on clientless access points, about these attacks here and here). Here is a large list of Wi-Fi cards that support monitor mode.

You’ll be able to capture handshakes and perform most wireless attacks with either of these models. Additional notes for those who decide to save up and buy items on sites like AliExpress on the chipsets mentioned above. The antenna can be 2, 4 or even more, but very important for these 2.4/5.0 GHz chipsets is also MIMO, which, when using multiple antennas, according to Gashek, increases the chance of capturing a handshake, and is also decisive for achieving maximum transmission speeds data during normal use. But, unfortunately, Chinese manufacturers often multiplex antennas instead of MIMO or simply place antennas that are not connected.

Dual-band (2.4GHz & 5.0GHz) wireless 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB adapters

Alfa AWUS036ACH (chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

Alfa AWUS036ACM (chipset: Mediatek MT7612U)

Alfa AWUS1900 (chipset: Realtek RTL8814AU)

This adapter is very similar to the Alfa AWUS036AC, but equipped with a Mediatek MT7612U chipset. This chipset is supported “out of the box” starting with Linux kernel 4.19, that is, it will work without installing additional drivers on Kali Linux >= 2019.3, Ubuntu >= 19.04, Linux Mint >= 19.3, etc.

Alfa AWUS036AC (chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

TRENDnet TEW-809UB (chipset: Realtek RTL8814AU)

ASUS USB-AC68 (chipset: Realtek RTL8814AU)

ASUS USB-AC56 (chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

TP-LINK Archer T9UH (chipset: Realtek RTL8814AU)

D-Link DWA-192 (chipset: Realtek RTL8814AU)

D-Link DWA-182 (rev C, chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

Edimax AC600 USB (chipset: Realtek RTL8811AU)

Netis WF2190 (chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

TOTOLINK A2000UA (chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

Tenda U12 (chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

ZyXEL NWD6605 (chipset: Realtek RTL8812AU)

Dual-band (2.4GHz & 5.0GHz) wireless 802.11a/b/g/n USB adapters

Alfa AWUS052NH (chipset: Ralink RT3572)

Panda Wireless PAU09 N600 (chipset: Ralink RT5572)

Single-band 2.4GHz wireless 802.11a/b/g/n USB adapters

Alfa AWUS036NEH (chipset: Ralink RT3070)

Panda PAU05 USB (chipset: Ralink RT3070)

TP-LINK TL-WN823N (rev v1, chipset: Realtek RTL8192CU)

TP-LINK TL-WN822N (rev v3, chipset: Realtek RTL8192CU)

Netgear WNA3100M (chipset: Realtek RTL8192CU)

Netis WF2123 (chipset: Realtek RTL8192CU)

ASUS USB-N13 (rev B1, chipset: Realtek RTL8192CU)

Tenda W311M (chipset: Ralink RT5370)

Alfa AWUS036NH (chipset: Ralink RT3070)

ASUS USB-N14 (rchipset: Ralink RT5372)

TP-LINK TL-WN821N (rev v4, chipset: Realtek RTL8192CU)

Panda PAU06 USB (chipset: Ralink RT5372)

Tenda W311Ma (chipset: Сhip Ralink RT5370)

Edimax EW-7711UAN (rev v1, chipset: Ralink RT3070)

Internal Wi-Fi adapters for laptops are compatible with Kali Linux

Some laptops have wireless adapters that support monitor mode and wireless injection. For example, Intel chips can do this. They also support access point mode and virtual interfaces. Probably a matter of good Intel wireless driver support for Linux. Hence, they are suitable for daily use in Linux as well as wireless attacks. I have had laptops with the following adapter models:

  • Intel Wireless-AC 9560 [Jefferson Peak] (rev 10) – has 2×2 antennas, MU-MIMO support and AC support

  • Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 (rev 24)

They work very well for data transfer or handshake capture. I think all representatives of the Wireless-AC**** and Intel Centrino Advanced-N**** lines support monitor mode and wireless injection. So the internal Intel adapters help me when I can’t use the external Alfa adapters. But, of course, you need to make corrections for the lack of external antennas.

Outdated, but 100% compatible with Kali Linux models

  • Acorp WUD-150N (Ralink RT3070L)

  • Alfa AWUS036H (Realtek RTL8187L)

  • ASUS USB-N11 (Ralink RT2770)

  • ASUS USB-N53 (Ralink RT3572)

  • ASUS USB-N66 (Ralink RT3573)

  • ASUS WL-160N (Ralink RT2870)

  • ASUS WL-167g (rev v1, Ralink RT2571)

  • ASUS WL-167g (rev v2, Ralink RT2571W)

  • D-Link DWA-110 (rev A1, Ralink RT2571W)

  • D-Link DWA-121 (rev A1, RalinkRTL8188CUS)

  • D-Link DWA-123 (rev A1, Ralink RT3370)

  • D-Link DWA-123 (rev B1, Ralink RT5370)

  • D-Link DWA-125 (rev A1, Ralink RT3070)

  • D-Link DWA-125 (rev A2, Ralink RT3070)

  • D-Link DWA-125 (rev A3, Ralink RT5370)

  • D-Link DWA-125 (rev B1, Ralink RT5370)

  • D-Link DWA-126 (Atheros AR9271)

  • D-Link DWA-127 (rev A1, Ralink RT3070)

  • D-Link DWA-130 (rev B1, Ralink RT2870)

  • D-Link DWA-130 (rev D, Atheros AR9170)

  • D-Link DWA-140 (rev B3, Ralink RT5372)

  • D-Link DWA-140 (rev C1, Ralink RT2870)

  • D-Link DWA-160 (rev A1, Atheros AR9170)

  • D-Link DWA-160 (rev A2, Atheros AR9170)

  • D-Link DWA-160 (rev B1, Ralink RT2870)

  • D-Link DWA-160 (rev B2, Ralink RT5572)

  • D-Link DWL-G122 (rev B1, Ralink RT2571)

  • D-Link DWL-G122 (rev C1, Ralink RT2571W)

  • D-Link DWL-G122 (rev E1, Ralink RT2070)

  • GEMBIRD WNP-UA-002 (Ralink RT3072)

  • Linksys AE1000 (Ralink RT3572)

  • Linksys AE3000 (Ralink RT3573)

  • Linksys WUSB100 (rev v1, Ralink RT2770)

  • Linksys WUSB100 (rev v2, Ralink RT3070)

  • Linksys WUSB600N (rev v1, Ralink RT2870)

  • Linksys WUSB600N rev v2, Ralink RT3572)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN322G (rev v3, Atheros AR9271)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN422G/NC (rev v1, ZyDAS ZD1211B)*

  • TP-LINK TL-WN422G/NC (rev v2, Atheros AR9271)*

  • TP-LINK TL-WN7200ND (rev v1, Ralink RT3070)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN721N/NC (rev v1, Atheros AR9271)*

  • TP-LINK TL-WN722N/NC (rev v1, Atheros AR9271)*

  • TP-LINK TL-WN722N/NC (rev v1, Atheros AR9271)*

  • TP-LINK TL-WN727N (rev v1, Ralink RT3070)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN727N (rev v3, Ralink RT5370)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN821N (rev v2, Atheros AR9170)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN821N (rev v3, Atheros AR7010)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN821N (rev v4, Realtek RTL8192CU)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN822N (rev v1, Atheros AR9170)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN822N (rev v2, Atheros AR7010)

  • TRENDnet TEW-424UB (rev v3, Realtek RTL8187B)

  • TRENDnet TEW-624UB (rev B1, Ralink RT2870)

  • TRENDnet TEW-624UB (rev D1, Realtek RTL8192CU)

  • TRENDnet TEW-644UB (Ralink RT2770)

  • TRENDnet TEW-645UB (Ralink RT2770)

  • TRENDnet TEW-664UB (rev v1, Ralink RT2870)

  • U-MEDIA WUB-375L (Ralink RT2770)

  • Z-Com XN-791 (Ralink RT2770)

  • ZyXEL NWD2205 (Realtek RTL8192CU)

  • ZyXEL ZyAIR G-202 (ZyDAS ZD1211B)

  • Netgear WN111 (rev v2, Atheros AR9170)

  • Netgear WNA1000 (Atheros AR9170)

  • Netgear WNA1100 (Atheros AR9271)

  • Netgear WNDA4100 (Ralink RT3573)

  • Proware PW-DN4210D (Atheros AR9271)

  • Sitecom WLA-5000 (Ralink RT3572)

  • Spark AD-600Z (ZyDAS ZD1211B)

  • Tenda UH150 (Ralink RT3070)

  • Tenda W322U (rev v3, Ralink RT5372)

  • Tenda W322UА (rev v1 Ralink RT3072)

  • Tenda W322UA (Ralink RT3072)

  • TP-LINK TL-WN322G (ZyDAS ZD1211B)

Other related articles
Found an error?
If you find an error, take a screenshot and send it to the bot.