PentAGI: How to Install and Set Up the AI Hacking Tool (2026 Guide)

Difficulty: 🟡 Intermediate | Type: Open Source | Free: Yes | GitHub Stars: ⭐ 15.5K

What is PentAGI?

PentAGI is a fully autonomous AI agent system that performs penetration testing (ethical hacking) automatically. Think of it as an AI security researcher that can scan websites and systems for vulnerabilities, run professional hacking tools like nmap and metasploit, write detailed vulnerability reports — all on its own, with no manual commands needed.

It was built for cybersecurity professionals, researchers, and ethical hackers who want to automate their security testing workflow using AI.

In simple words: You give it a target website or system, and it figures out how to test it for security holes — all by itself.

Who Is PentAGI For?

Cybersecurity professionals and ethical hackers
Security researchers and bug bounty hunters
IT teams who want to test their own infrastructure
Students learning about cybersecurity and AI agents
Developers who want to understand how autonomous AI agents work

⚠️ Important: PentAGI is for ethical and legal security testing only. Only use it on systems you own or have written permission to test.

What Can PentAGI Do?

Automatically run 20+ professional pentesting tools (nmap, metasploit, sqlmap and more)
Search the web for vulnerability information and exploits
Remember what it has tested before and improve over time
Generate detailed vulnerability reports with exploitation guides
Connect to 10+ AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic/Claude, Google Gemini, local Ollama models)
Work completely offline using local AI models (zero cost after setup)

Requirements Before You Start

Before installing PentAGI, make sure you have:

Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS, or Linux (Ubuntu recommended)
RAM: Minimum 4GB (8GB+ recommended)
Storage: At least 20GB free disk space
Docker: Must be installed (explained below)
API Key: At least one AI provider — OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini (free tiers available)
Internet connection for initial setup

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1 — Install Docker

Docker is what PentAGI runs inside. It creates an isolated, safe environment for the security tools.

On Windows:

Go to docker.com/products/docker-desktop
Download Docker Desktop for Windows
Run the installer and restart your computer
Open Docker Desktop — make sure it shows “Engine running” at the bottom

On Mac:

Go to docker.com/products/docker-desktop
Download Docker Desktop for Mac (choose Intel or Apple Silicon depending on your Mac)
Drag it to Applications folder and open it
Wait for the whale icon to appear in your menu bar

On Linux (Ubuntu):

bash

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Then log out and log back in.

Verify Docker is working:

bash

docker --version

You should see something like: Docker version 24.0.5

Step 2 — Create Your Installation Folder

Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows) and run:

bash

mkdir pentagi
cd pentagi

Step 3 — Download PentAGI

Option A — Automatic Installer (Recommended for beginners)

Download the installer for your system:

Windows: Download Windows Installer
Mac (Intel): Download Mac Intel Installer
Mac (Apple Silicon/M1/M2/M3): Download Mac M-Series Installer
Linux: Download Linux Installer

Extract the zip file into your pentagi folder, then run the installer:

On Linux/Mac:

bash

unzip installer-latest.zip
sudo ./installer

On Windows: Double-click installer.exe

The installer will guide you through everything with a simple menu.

Option B — Manual Setup

bash

# Download the configuration file
curl -o .env https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vxcontrol/pentagi/master/.env.example

# Download example config files
curl -o example.custom.provider.yml https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vxcontrol/pentagi/master/examples/configs/custom-openai.provider.yml

# Download Docker compose file
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vxcontrol/pentagi/master/docker-compose.yml

Step 4 — Add Your AI API Key

Open the .env file in any text editor (Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac).

Find these lines and add your API key:

If using OpenAI:

OPEN_AI_KEY=sk-your-openai-key-here

If using Anthropic (Claude):

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-key-here

If using Google Gemini:

GEMINI_API_KEY=your-gemini-key-here

If using free local AI (Ollama — no API key needed):

OLLAMA_SERVER_URL=http://localhost:11434
OLLAMA_SERVER_MODEL=llama3.1:8b-instruct-q8_0

Save the file after editing.

Step 5 — Start PentAGI

bash

docker compose up -d

This will download all the required components (first time takes 5-10 minutes depending on internet speed).

When it is done, open your browser and go to:

https://localhost:8443

Default login credentials:

Email: admin@pentagi.com
Password: admin

🔒 Change your password immediately after first login in Settings.

Step 6 — Create Your First Security Flow

Click New Flow in the dashboard
Select your AI model provider from the dropdown
In the input box type something like: Test the security of my website at https://yourwebsite.com
Click Start and watch PentAGI work autonomously

PentAGI will start researching, planning, and executing security tests automatically. You can watch it work in real time.

Common Errors and Fixes

Error: “Cannot connect to Docker daemon”

Make sure Docker Desktop is open and running
On Linux, run: sudo systemctl start docker

Error: “Port 8443 already in use”

Another program is using that port. Stop it or change the port in .env file: PENTAGI_LISTEN_PORT=9443

Error: “Invalid API key”

Double check your API key in the .env file — no spaces before or after
Make sure you copied the full key including the sk- prefix for OpenAI

Error: “Out of memory”

Close other programs to free up RAM
PentAGI needs at least 4GB free to run properly

The website shows a security warning (SSL certificate)

This is normal for localhost. Click “Advanced” then “Proceed anyway” in your browser

Free vs Paid Options

Feature	Free (Local Ollama)	Paid (OpenAI/Claude)
Cost	$0 (after hardware)	Pay per use
Speed	Slower	Faster
Quality	Good for basics	Excellent
Privacy	100% local	Data sent to cloud
Setup difficulty	Harder	Easier

Best for beginners: Start with a free OpenAI trial or Google Gemini free tier.

Alternatives to PentAGI

If PentAGI feels too advanced, here are simpler options:

Nuclei — Beginner · Open Source · Fast vulnerability scanner
Nikto — Beginner · Open Source · Web server scanner
OWASP ZAP — Beginner · Free · Graphical interface security scanner

Want to Make Money Using AI Tools Like These?

Now that you know how to set up AI tools, the next step is learning how to use them to build income streams. Our guide covers exactly how people are making $2,000–$10,000/month using free AI tools — from freelancing to building automation businesses.

👉 Check out our AI Income Guide

Found this guide helpful? Follow us on Instagram @globalaiforce for daily AI tool discoveries.

GitHub Repository: github.com/vxcontrol/pentagi

What is PentAGI?

Who Is PentAGI For?

What Can PentAGI Do?

Requirements Before You Start

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1 — Install Docker

Step 2 — Create Your Installation Folder

Step 3 — Download PentAGI

Step 4 — Add Your AI API Key

Step 5 — Start PentAGI

Step 6 — Create Your First Security Flow

Common Errors and Fixes

Free vs Paid Options

Alternatives to PentAGI

Want to Make Money Using AI Tools Like These?

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply