First I wanted to say I also submitted this problem/solution combo to Maltego's Tech support.
Posting here (first post) to ensure that other Kali users have a solution should they run into this issue.
It might be specific to lower resolutions:
OS: Kali Linux 2020.1 - non-root user
Resolution: Laptop Screen (1366x768)
Setup Maltego for the first time, and signed into app with newly created account.
When prompted for updates allowed them to install (v4.2.3 -> 4.2.9)
On Maltego restart, the splash screen comes up and it appears that Maltego "gets stuck loading modules".
It is not actually stuck, I found that the Master Password entry screen is obscured by the splash screen.
I could see the Master Password entry screen in my mini Workspace View 1, but nothing in 2 or 3.
All workspace views had the splash screen so moving the Master Password entry screen between workspace screens was no help.
I found that it is possible to remove the splash screen with --nosplash when running Maltego from a terminal ("maltego --nosplash").
To update the Program entry for Maltego in the Whisker Launcher,
- Click the Whisker Menu.
- Click on "01 - Information Gathering"
- Right click on the maltego entry, and click "Edit Application"
- Update the Command entry, adding --nosplash between maltego and the closing quotes the whole command box will read:
Code:
sh -c "maltego --nosplash"
The Master Password prompt appears every time, and is no longer obscured by the splash screen.
Hopefully someone else will find this useful.