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Kali Linux


Last Update: 2026-03-24 22:25 UTC


Kali Linux (formerly known as BackTrack) is a Debian-based distribution with a collection of security and forensics tools. It features timely security updates, support for the ARM architecture, a choice of four popular desktop environments, and seamless upgrades to newer versions.



Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 30 (372), 6 months: 34 (338), 3 months: 33 (347), 4 weeks: 59 (246), 1 week: 67 (236)

Average visitor rating: 9.4/10 from 49 review(s).


Kali Summary
Distribution Kali Linux (formerly BackTrack)
Home Page https://www.kali.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://forums.kali.org/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation https://www.kali.org/kali-linux-documentation/
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://www.kali.org/downloads/DistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker https://bugs.kali.org/
Related Websites Offensive SecurityWikipedia
Reviews 2016.x: DistroWatchZDNet
1.0.x: DedoimedoLinuxBSDosZDNetBinary TidesLinuxBSDos
BackTrack: LinuxBSDosADMINUbuntu ManualDedoimedoLinux.comLinux.com
Where To Donate, Buy or Try The Linux Shop

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2026-03-24: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2026.1
 • 2025-12-12: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2025.4
 • 2025-09-23: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2025.3
 • 2025-06-13: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2025.2
 • 2025-03-19: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2025.1a
 • 2024-12-16: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2024.4
 • 2024-09-11: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2024.3
 • 2024-06-05: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2024.2
 • 2024-02-28: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2024.1
 • 2023-12-06: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2023.4
 • 2023-08-24: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2023.3
 • 2023-03-13: Distribution Release: Kali Linux 2023.1
 • More Kali releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2025-04-28 Kali Linux replaces repository signing key
 • 2021-05-25 Kali team unveils Kaboxer
 • 2020-03-03 Kali publishes updated install media
 • 2019-08-22 Kali reworks meta-packages
 • 2018-09-05 How to customize Kali
 • 2017-01-19 Kali Linux introduces KLCP professional certification
 • More Kali headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
Feature 2026.1 2025.4 2024.4
Release Date 2026-03-24 2025-12-12 2024-12-16
End Of Life      
Price (US$) Free Free Free
Image Size (MB) 600-4600 600-4600 600-4200
Free Download ISO ISO ISO
Installation Graphical Graphical Graphical
Default Desktop Xfce Xfce Xfce
Default Browser Chromium, Firefox ESR Chromium, Firefox ESR Chromium, Firefox ESR
Package Format deb deb deb
Package Management apt apt apt
Release Model Rolling Rolling Rolling
Office Suite -- -- --
Processor Architecture aarch64, x86_64 aarch64, x86_64 armel, armhf, x86_64
Init Software systemd systemd systemd
Journaled File Systems ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS
Multilingual      
Full Package List 2026.1 2025.4 2024.4
alsa-lib (1.2.16.1) 1.2.15.3 1.2.14 1.2.12
amdgpu (25.0.0) 25.0.0 23.0.0 23.0.0
apparmor (5.0.1) 4.1.6 4.1.0 3.1.7
apt (3.3.1) 3.1.16 3.1.12 2.9.10
bash (5.3) 5.3 5.3 5.2.32
bind (9.20.23) -- -- --
chromium (149.0.7827.114) 145.0.7632.159 142.0.7444.175 130.0.6723.116
cinnamon (6.6.8) -- -- --
cups (2.4.19) 2.4.16 2.4.14 2.4.7
e2fsprogs (1.47.4) 1.47.2 1.47.2 1.47.1
ffmpeg (8.1.1) -- -- --
firefox (152.0) 140.8.0 140.5.0 128.4.0
flatpak (1.18.0) -- -- --
freetype (2.14.3) 2.14.1 2.13.3 2.13.3
gcc (16.1.0) 15.2.0 15.2.0 14.2.0
gimp (3.2.4) -- -- --
git (2.54.0) 2.51.0 2.51.0 2.45.2
glibc (2.43) 2.42 2.41 2.40
gnome-shell (50.2) 49.4 49.1 47.1
grub (2.14) 2.12 2.12 2.12
gtk (4.22.4) 4.20.3 4.20.3 4.16.5
httpd (2.4.68) 2.4.66 2.4.65 2.4.62
hyprland (0.55.4) -- -- --
inkscape (1.4.4) -- -- --
kmod (34.2) 34.2 34.2 33
krita (6.0.2.1) -- -- --
LibreOffice (26.2.4) -- -- --
libselinux (3.10) 3.9 3.9 3.7
linux (7.1) 6.18.12 6.16.8 6.11.2
mariadb (12.3.2) 11.8.6 11.8.3 11.4.3
mate-desktop (1.28.2) -- -- --
mesa (26.1.2) 26.0.0 25.2.6 24.2.7
nautilus (50.2.2) 49.3 49.1 47.0
NVIDIA (610.43.02) -- -- --
openjdk (26.0.1) 21.0.10 21.0.9 23.0.1
openssh (10.3p1) 10.2p1 10.2p1 9.9p1
openssl (4.0.1) 3.5.5 3.5.4 3.3.2
perl (5.42.2) 5.40.1 5.40.1 5.40.0
php (8.5.7) 8.4.16 8.4.11 8.2.24
plasma-desktop (6.7.0) 6.5.4 6.5.3 5.27.11
postfix (3.11.3) -- -- --
postgresql (18.4) 18.3 18.1 17.0
Python (3.14.6) 3.13.12 3.13.7 3.12.6
qt (6.11.1) 6.9.2 6.9.2 6.7.2
samba (4.24.3) 4.23.6 4.23.3 4.21.1
systemd (260.2) 259.1 259rc1 256.6
thunderbird (152.0) -- -- --
vim (9.2) 9.1 9.1 9.1
vlc (3.0.23) -- -- 3.0.21
wayland (1.25.0) 1.24.0 1.24.0 1.23.0
xfdesktop (4.20.2) 4.20.1 4.20.1 4.18.1
xorg-server (21.1.23) 21.1.21 21.1.20 21.1.13


Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Kali Linux

Average rating
9.3
from 49 review(s)



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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 2025.4
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-12-25
Votes: 60


Say hello to Kali Linux 2025.4! Expect updated tools, performance tweaks, and improved support - no fluff, just the essentials. The summary of the changelog since the 2025.3 release from September is: Desktop Environments - Changes to all! GNOME, KDE & Xfce Wayland - VM Guest Utils Support Halloween Mode - dresses the desktop for the occasion 3 New Tools - As always, new packages added and upgraded! Desktop Environments GNOME 49 As with previous GNOME updates in Kali, we’ve given all our themes a fresh coat of paint - everything has been tuned to look sharp and feel smooth.
Thanks to the Kali developers for the perfect 2025.4 version of Kali Linux!
My PC doesn't show any errors in the journal!
Kali Linux developers are among the best developers in the world! Cheers
X-Mas


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2025.4
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-12-13
Votes: 12


There are also updates to Kali's built-in tools. Besides the new features and bug fixes for Kali NetHunter, there are three new tools: bpf-linker (a BPF static linker), evil-winrm-py (for executing commands on remote Windows PCs), and hexstrike-ai (an MCP server for AI agents). Kali is also now using Linux kernel 6.16.

Finally, there's a change to downloading Kali: the live boot image will only be available through BitTorrent. It's approaching the 5GB size limit for Kali's CloudFlare CDN, and the team wanted to avoid customizing it or removing tools from all versions of Kali Linux. Many of the other images can still be downloaded through a web browser, though, including the main installer and several pre-built virtual machines. It's still available as of the time of writing, but it's a 4.9GB download, so the next update could push it over the line.

If you already have Kali Linux installed, you can just run the update process to get the latest version. For a fresh install, head over to the Kali Linux website for downloads and torrent links.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2025.3
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-11-15
Votes: 10


Kali Linux 2025.3 is a meaningful update for security professionals, red-teamers, wireless testers and lab managers. With ten new tools, improved wireless injection support (especially for Raspberry Pi devices), updated virtualization build workflows, and a continued focus on modernization, this release expands what you can do out of the box. If you rely on Kali for pentesting or security lab work, this version is worth installing or upgrading to, provided you verify compatibility and test your key workflows.


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See all 49 reader reviews of Kali Linux...


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