The Parrot OS team has released the beta version of Parrot 7.0, a popular ethical hacking and penetration testing Linux distribution. The update marks a major shift to KDE Plasma as the default desktop environment, replacing the previous MATE setup. It also includes an upgraded base from Debian 13 and performance improvements.
Parrot OS, known for its focus on ethical hacking and penetration testing, has unveiled the beta of its upcoming 7.0 release. Announced on December 9, 2025, this version introduces significant updates aimed at modernizing the distribution while maintaining its security-oriented roots.
The most prominent change is the adoption of KDE Plasma as the default desktop environment across all editions, moving away from the lightweight MATE interface. This switch extends the classic terminal green style throughout the system for a cohesive look. Under the hood, Parrot 7.0 rebuilds on Debian 13 “Trixie,” incorporating the Linux 6.12 LTS kernel for long-term stability. It defaults to KDE Plasma 6.3.6, reflecting the base system's components.
Performance enhancements include mounting the /tmp directory as tmpfs in RAM, which boosts speed and reduces wear on SSDs. However, this means any data in /tmp will be cleared on reboot, aligning with expected behavior for temporary files. Core packages have been refreshed, including parrot-core, parrot-interface, calamares-settings-parrot, parrot-themes, and parrot-menu, with improvements for better multi-desktop environment support.
Available now for testing are the Home and Security editions for 64-bit systems, downloadable from the official release page. Developers emphasize that this beta is not intended for production environments, urging users to provide feedback to refine the stable release.