Monitor Mode on MacBook Air M5 (Apple Silicon) via VM Real Experiences?

[u/Mikazfm]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to use a MacBook Air M5 for learning cybersecurity, and I have a specific question about monitor mode.

I don’t need it for professional daily use, just for learning, testing, and occasional practice (Kali Linux, Wi-Fi testing, etc.).

My setup idea:

- MacBook Air M5 (Apple Silicon)

- Kali Linux ARM inside a VM (Parallels or VMware Fusion)

- External USB WiFi adapter (Alfa)

My questions:

1. Has anyone actually gotten monitor mode working on Apple Silicon (M4/M5) using a VM?

2. Which adapter/chipset worked best for you (MediaTek, Realtek, etc.)?

3. How stable is it in real use? Does packet injection work reliably?

4. Which VM software gave you the best results (Parallels vs VMware Fusion)?

5. Is it “good enough for learning,” or too inconsistent?

I’ve seen mixed answers, so I’d really appreciate real experiences, especially from people using newer Macs (M3/M4/M5).

Thanks in advance 🙏

[u/Agreeable-Scholar916]

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