Fixing 403 Forbidden Error on Kali Linux 'apt update'

When working with Kali Linux, especially after a fresh install or network change, you may encounter an error while updating your system using apt update. One of the most common issues is a 403 Forbidden error related to the Kali repositories.

In this post, I’ll guide you step by step to fix it quickly and safely.

The Problem: 403 Forbidden Error

When you run:

sudo apt update

You might see an error like this:

Err:1 http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling InRelease
403 Forbidden [IP: 99.99.99.99 80]
Error: The repository 'http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling InRelease' is not signed.
Notice: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.


This usually happens when your system is trying to reach the Kali repository using http instead of the secure https:

Step-by-Step Fix

Check Your Internet Connection

First, make sure your network is working properly:

ping google.com

If you see replies, you’re connected.

Edit the APT Sources

Now let's update your APT repository source to use HTTPS.

Open the sources file with:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Find this line:

deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib

Change it to:

deb https://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib

Switching from http to https makes the connection secure and avoids the 403 error.

Save the file:

1. Press ' CTRL + O ' then ' ENTER ' to save

2. Press ' CTRL + X ' to exit

Update the Package List Again

Now retry the update command:

sudo apt update

You should see:

Hit:1 https://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling InRelease
1297 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.

Success!

(Optional) View Upgradable Packages

If you want to see what’s new:

apt list --upgradable

Upgrade All Packages

To fully update your system:

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

That’s it! You’ve fixed the 403 Forbidden error and updated your Kali Linux system successfully. Remember to always use secure https repositories to avoid future issues. This small tweak helps keep your system secure and stable.

If you found this post helpful, feel free to share it with fellow ethical hackers or Linux enthusiasts. Happy hacking.