> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Kali 2025.2 Gets Many Visual Buffs with GNOME 48, KDE 6 & More - URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/kali-linux-2025-2-release/ - Published: 2025-06-16T07:52:07.000Z - Updated: 2025-06-19T12:10:57.000Z - Description: Don't miss this release of Kali Linux! - Author: Sourav Rudra - Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15 Marking its second major release of 2025, Kali Linux 2025.2 is here, delivering several desktop upgrades, interface refinements, and new tools for cybersecurity enthusiasts. Unlike general-purpose distros like Ubuntu or Fedora, Kali is specifically aimed at cybersecurity tasks such as penetration testing, digital forensics, and reverse engineering. Let’s take a look at what this release brings to the table. ## 🆕 Kali Linux 2025.2: What's New? ![fastfetch output of kali linux 2025.2](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/06/kali-linux-2025-2-fastfetch.jpg) Under the hood, Kali Linux 2025.2 is powered by Linux kernel 6.12 and comes loaded with a host of new tools like [AzureHound](https://github.com/SpecterOps/AzureHound?ref=itsfoss.com), [CRLFuzz](https://github.com/dwisiswant0/crlfuzz?ref=itsfoss.com), [Gitxray](https://gitxray.com/?ref=itsfoss.com), [Rubeus](https://github.com/GhostPack/Rubeus?ref=itsfoss.com), and the recently updated [BloodHound Community Edition](https://github.com/SpecterOps/BloodHound?ref=itsfoss.com). The **key highlights** of this release include changes like: - **GNOME 48** - **KDE Plasma 6.3** - **Reworked Menu** ## GNOME 48 ![gnome 48 running on kali linux 2025.2](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/06/kali-linux-2025-2-gnome-48.jpg) While the default Xfce session on Kali Linux is a good one, those who prefer a more modern-looking desktop usually move over to GNOME. This release of Kali comes equipped with [GNOME 48](https://itsfoss.com/gnome-48-release/), introducing many new features that complement the desktop experience. Among those are things like **notification stacking** for better management, a **Wellbeing** feature for setting screen time limits, **support for HDR** monitors, and much more. The Kali Linux team has also included some tweaks to reflect their visual style, and there is **a new VPN IP extension** developed by a community contributor that displays a VPN connection’s IP address in the panel for easy access. [GNOME 48 Released With Focus on Your Digital WellbeingIt took its time, but GNOME 48 is finally here with some rather interesting changes.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-130.png)It's FOSS NewsSourav Rudra![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/gnome-48-release.png)](https://itsfoss.com/gnome-48-release/) ## KDE Plasma 6.3 ![kali linux 2025,2's kde plasma 6.3 desktop view with the app launcher open](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/06/kali-linux-2025-2-kde-plasma-6-3.jpg) If you don’t prefer GNOME, Kali Linux offers KDE [Plasma 6.3](https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.0/?ref=itsfoss.com) as an alternative. It comes packed with new bits like the ability to **Clone Panels**, **better support for fractional scaling**, and **more accurate colors** when using Night Light. Additionally, the *System Monitor* app now provides more accurate CPU usage reporting, as well as improved battery, GPU, and printer reporting. ## Reworked Menu ![the reworked kali menu with mitre att&ck framework layout](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/06/kali-linux-2025-2-reworked-mitre-menu.jpg) In line with the [MITRE ATT&CK](https://attack.mitre.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) framework, Kali Linux has updated its menu layout, so tools are now grouped by how attackers (*cyber adversaries*) actually operate. This makes it much easier for users to find and explore tools based on what they want to do, rather than needing to know specific tool names or categories. Earlier, they used the menu setup from BackTrack, which was based on WHAX. This older menu was not very organized, making it tiresome to update with new tool entries and difficult for end users to find tools easily. ### 🛠️ Other Changes and Improvements We close this out with a few notable changes that weren't mentioned earlier: - Kali Linux is now on [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/kalilinux.bsky.social?ref=itsfoss.com) and [PeerTube](https://video.infosec.exchange/c/kalilinux/videos?ref=itsfoss.com). - Addition of three new [community wallpapers](https://www.kali.org/wallpapers/community/?ref=itsfoss.com). - [Xclip](https://github.com/astrand/xclip?ref=itsfoss.com) for automatic terminal output transfers to the clipboard. - Wireless injection on the [TicWatch Pro 3](https://forums.kali.org/t/hijacker-on-ticwatch-pro-3-with-wireless-injection/6242?ref=itsfoss.com) via Kali NetHunter. - New download mirrors in [India](https://mirror.del2.albony.in/kali-images/?ref=itsfoss.com) and [South Korea](https://mirror.hemino.net/kali/?ref=itsfoss.com), though the Korean mirror may not work if you're using a VPN. You can find more details in the official [announcement blog](https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2025-2-release/?ref=itsfoss.com). ## 📥 Get Kali Linux 2025.2 If you are looking for a fresh installation, then visit the [official website](https://www.kali.org/get-kali/?ref=news.itsfoss.com) to get the latest images. You can also find the live and weekly images for Kali Linux there. [Kali Linux 2025.2](https://www.kali.org/get-kali/?ref=news.itsfoss.com) For **existing users**, they can execute these commands to get the new release: ``` echo "deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main contrib non-free non-free-firmware" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list ``` To obtain the [new signing key](https://itsfoss.com/kali-linux-new-signing-key/): ``` sudo wget https://archive.kali.org/archive-keyring.gpg -O /usr/share/keyrings/kali-archive-keyring.gpg ``` Start the upgrade process: ``` sudo apt update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade ``` Copy the default configuration files to your home directory: ``` cp -vrbi /etc/skel/. ~/ ``` Finally, reboot: ``` [-f /var/run/reboot-required ] && sudo reboot -f ``` The [upgrade guide](https://www.kali.org/docs/general-use/updating-kali/?ref=news.itsfoss.com) should be your next stop if you face any issues during the procedure. **Suggested Read** 📖 [Kali Linux Users Need to do This Right Away!Kali Linux users need to take note.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-129.png)It's FOSS NewsSourav Rudra![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/kali-linux-signing-key-deprecation-1.png)](https://itsfoss.com/kali-linux-new-signing-key/)