After an interval of over five months from its previous significant 6.0 launch, Parrot System, a multifaceted operating system tailored for security specialists, programmers, and privacy-focused users, has declared the emergence of version 6.1.

Simultaneously released with the latest iteration of another prominent security distribution, Kali 2024.2, Parrot 6.1 arrives packed with updated utilities for penetration testing, vulnerability evaluation, digital forensics, and incognito web browsing. Let’s delve into the latest features.

Major Enhancements in Parrot System 6.1

Running on the Linux kernel 6.5, Parrot 6.1 flaunts a diverse range of enhanced utilities crucial for security and development operations:

• Anonymous Surf 4.2: Bolsters user obscurity with heightened stability and fixes to the launcher script.
• System Utilities: Enhancements to tools like woeusb-ng and volatility3 amplify user experience in crafting bootable USB drives and executing memory forensics.
• Parrot Updater: Reimplements update notifications to assist users in effortlessly keeping their systems up to date.
• Security Tools: Updates cover nmap, burpsuite, sqlmap, and metasploit, which have been enhanced with critical patches to elevate their efficacy.
• Browser Security: Both Chromium and Firefox have been refreshed with the most recent security fixes to ensure secure browsing.

In addition to these updates, the latest version introduces performance enhancements to the PipeWire audio server and improvements in the GRUB bootloader functionality. Office suite applications have also been attended to, with LibreOffice receiving an update to version 24.2.3 for enhanced features and security.

Furthermore, the system expands its compatibility to include the Raspberry Pi 5 with updated drivers and kernel optimizations, ensuring superior device compatibility and performance, particularly notable enhancements in WiFi connectivity on the Raspberry Pi 400.

Noteworthy is the revamped design of the system’s website, featuring a more user-friendly “guided” download page, streamlining the process for users to select the edition that best aligns with their requirements. Documentation and virtual machines have been revised to enhance user accessibility and education on utilizing Parrot System.

For existing users, the transition to Parrot System 6.1 can be accomplished through one of the following APT commands:

sudo parrot-upgrade
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

Nevertheless, developers recommend data backup and contemplating a fresh installation for a more organized and stable update, particularly when transitioning from a significantly older version.

The release notes furnish comprehensive insights into all alterations in Parrot 6.1. The installation ISO images can be obtained from the project’s download section.