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# Kali Linux's 10th Anniversary: A New 'Kali Purple' Distro and a Version Upgrade
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/kali-linux-10-year-anniversary/
- Published: 2023-03-15T09:31:39.000Z
- Updated: 2023-03-15T09:34:43.000Z
- Description: Kali Linux gears up with new tools, a new ISO and unveils exciting plans for 2023.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

Kali Linux is a well-known name among penetration testers and developers alike that offers a very **robust set of tools for most pen testing use cases**.

On the eve of its 10th anniversary, two new major releases have been unveiled, including a new Kali Linux variant called **'Kali Purple'**, and the first update of this year, code-named **'Kali Linux 2023.1'**.

## Kali Purple

![neofetch output of kali purple](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/03/Kali_Purple.jpg)

With Kali Purple, [Offensive Security](https://offsec.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), the folks behind Kali Linux are now venturing into a new area, **'Defensive Security.'**

🛠️ **Launched as a technical preview**, it is a proof-of-concept that they aim to evolve into a framework similar to what Kali Linux is today.

The final goal of this is said to be **making enterprise-grade security available to everyone.**

So, **what does Kali Purple contain?**

It includes a **reference architecture for a SOC In-A-Box experience** that paves the way for learning and practicing through various methods.

Some of those include:

- SOC analysis and threat hunting practice.
- Security control design and testing.
- Blue / Red / Purple teaming exercises.
- Kali spy vs. spy competitions (bare knuckle Blue vs. Red)

In addition, Kali Purple also has an **expansive suite of over 100 defensive tools,** including the likes of [Arkime](https://arkime.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), [CyberChef](https://gchq.github.io/CyberChef/?ref=itsfoss.com), [Zeek](https://zeek.org/?ref=itsfoss.com), and more.

You can get it from the official website if you want to try it out. The Kali Purple ISO should be listed once you scroll the download page.

[Download Kali Purple](https://www.kali.org/get-kali/?ref=itsfoss.com)

**Suggested Read** 📖

[Best Linux Distributions for Hacking and Penetration TestingLooking for the best Linux distro to learn hacking? Whether you want to pursue a career in information security, are already working as a security professional, or are just interested in the field, a decent Linux distro that suits your purposes is a must. There are countless Linux distros…![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSMunif Tanjim![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2016/07/best-linux-distributions-hacking.jpg)](https://itsfoss.com/linux-hacking-penetration-testing/)

## Kali Linux 2023.1 Release

![a screenshot of the kali linux 2023.1 dekstop](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/03/Kali_Linux_2023.1.jpg)

Kali Linux's latest release now ships with [Linux Kernel 6.1](https://itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-1-release/) and an updated desktop environment package, with [Xfce 4.18](https://itsfoss.com/xfce-4-18-release/) leading the way.

The main Xfce highlights for Kali include; support for panel profiles, better UI scaling support, and improvements to Thunar, the file manager.

![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/03/kali-linux-xfce.png)

Kali Linux (Xfce 4.18)

Then there is the inclusion of [KDE Plasma 5.27](https://itsfoss.com/kde-plasma-5-27-release/), which features a new window tiling system, a better-looking app theme, more tools, etc.

But, in the case of GNOME, they chose not to include any significant updates, seeing that **GNOME 44 is just around the corner**.

📝

They intend to include GNOME 44 with the next Kali release.

Only a new shortcut was added to open the terminal quicklyin the file manager's current folder with the **'F4'** key.

The **'kali-undercover'** mode was also updated to support the latest desktop changes, minor improvements, and bug fixes.

Sticking to their tradition, **this year also sees a theme refresh** for Kali Linux with many new wallpapers for desktop, login, and boot displays.

![the new wallpapers offered with kali linux 2023.1 and kali purple](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/03/Kali_Linux_2023.1_Wallpapers.png)

You can also find the Kali Purple theme in all the other desktop variants.

Other than that, here are a few other changes that are worth knowing about:

- Python improvements.
- The default kernel settings were tweaked for better usability.
- The 'non-free-firmware' component from Debian 12 was included.
- Issues related to the speech synthesizer, Metasploit-framework, and libssl1.1/OpenSSL v3 were fixed.
- Support for two new mobile devices was added to Kali NetHunter, and Kali ARM now has better support for [Radxa Zero](https://wiki.radxa.com/Zero?ref=itsfoss.com).

You can get Kali Linux 2023.1 from the [official website](https://www.kali.org/get-kali/?ref=itsfoss.com).

[Download Kali Linux 2023.1](https://www.kali.org/get-kali/?ref=itsfoss.com)

Refer to the official [blog post](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2023-1-release/?ref=itsfoss.com) to explore more.

*💬 What are your thoughts on Kali Purple and its new release? Please share them in the comments below.*