When we talk about Kali Linux alternatives, options like Parrot Linux and BlackArch often turn out to be the top contenders. There are Windows-based options like Commando VM as well, but Linux-based ethical hacking distros are the go-to options for the security researchers.
The Parrot Linux team recently announced the release of the latest Parrot Linux 4.6. It’s a result of three months of a rigorous development cycle. It’s a big milestone for the team as well as they’ve now shifted everything to their own infrastructure and this is the first release utilizing the same.
For those who don’t know, the Parrot team ships its distribution in different versions. While the Security version delivers the full-fledged environment for privacy, forensics, pen-testing, and reverse engineering, the Home/Workstation version offers a lightweight system for daily use and privacy. If you don’t plan to perform heavy-duty pentesting work you simply love the feel of Parrot, then using Home/Workstation version makes sense.
What’s new in Parrot 4.6?
The Debian “Testing” branch-based Parrot has added a new ISO image that’s based on the KDE Plasma desktop. This new flavor is available both in Security and Home editions. Prior to this change, Parrot shipped with the default MATE desktop.
On the design front, new boot-splash animation and desktop background have been added. While the icons and theme remain the same, the desktop-base and wallpapers have been updated to match the new appearance.
Another major change comes in the form of APT’s enforcement of HTTPS. Now Parrot 4.6 is configured to redirect to HTTPS mirrors when possible. If HTTPS mirrors aren’t available, the signatures are still verified.
Moving on to better hardware support, Parrot 4.6 ships with Linux 4.19 Kernel. While it might not be the latest 5.0, 4.19 is a long term support kernel. The Nvidia drivers are also updated to the new 410 version to ensure better performance.
You can read the complete release announcement here and visit the download page for the ISO images and torrents.
