Fixed with:
sudo airmon-ng start wlan0 Output:
ath9k_htc: Firmware - ath9k_htc/htc_9271.fw not found Aha! The driver was there, but the firmware blob was missing. install atheros ar9271 driver kali linux
sudo modprobe ath9k_htc And like magic— wlan0 appeared. Final test: Fixed with: sudo airmon-ng start wlan0 Output: ath9k_htc:
Panic? Just a little.
sudo apt update sudo apt install firmware-atheros Rebooted. Still nothing. Deeper dive: another driver ( ath5k or ath9k ) was conflicting. Blacklisting solved it: install atheros ar9271 driver kali linux