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BlackArch Linux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: BlackArch Linux

BlackArch Linux


Last Update: 2026-02-08 01:17 UTC


BlackArch Linux is an Arch Linux-based distribution designed for penetration testers and security researchers. It is supplied as a live DVD image that comes with several lightweight window managers, including Fluxbox, Openbox, Awesome and spectrwm. It ships with over a thousand specialist tools for penetration testing and forensic analysis.

Average visitor rating: 9.2/10 from 6 review(s).


Antergos Summary
Distribution BlackArch Linux
Home Page http://blackarch.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums --
Alternative User Forums
Documentation http://blackarch.org/guide.html
Screenshots --
Screencasts
Download Mirrors http://blackarch.org/downloads.htmlDistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker https://github.com/BlackArch/blackarch/issues
Related Websites Wikipedia
Reviews 2016.x: LWN
Where To Donate, Buy or Try

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2020-12-01: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2020.12.01
 • 2020-05-29: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2020.06.01
 • 2019-12-29: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2020.01.01
 • 2019-08-28: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2019.09.01
 • 2019-05-24: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2019.06.01
 • 2018-11-30: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2018.12.01
 • 2018-06-01: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2018.06.01
 • 2017-11-24: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2017.11.24
 • 2017-08-30: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2017.08.30
 • 2017-03-02: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2017.03.01
 • 2016-12-21: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2016.12.20
 • 2016-08-19: Distribution Release: BlackArch Linux 2016.08.19
 • More BlackArch releases...

Table Notes and Explanations

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  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
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Feature 2023.04.01 2021.09.01 2020.12.01 2019.09.01 2018.12.01 2017.12.11 2016.12.29 2015.03.29 2014.07.01 Feature
Release Date 2023-04-01 2021-08-17 2020-12-01 2019-08-28 2018-11-30 2017-12-11 2016-12-29 2015-03-30 2014-07-01 Release Date
End Of Life                   End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 800-22000 800-18000 700-15000 600-16000 600-11000 400-6800       Image Size (MB)
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Graphical Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Installation
Default Desktop Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox Default Desktop
Default Browser                   Default Browser
Package Format pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg Package Format
Package Management                   Package Management
Release Model Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Release Model
Office Suite -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Office Suite
Processor Architecture x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 armv6h, armv7h, x86_64 armv6h, armv7h, x86_64 armv6h, armv7h, i686, x86_64 armv6h, armv7h, i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 Processor Architecture
Init Software systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd systemd Init Software
Journaled File Systems                   Journaled File Systems
Multilingual                   Multilingual
Full Package List 2023.04.01 2021.09.01 2020.12.01 2019.09.01 2018.12.01 2017.12.11 2016.12.29 2015.03.29 2014.07.01 Full Package List
Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for BlackArch Linux

Average rating
9.2
from 6 review(s)
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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 2023.04.01
Rating: 9
Date: 2026-01-14
Votes: 0


Really good OS for security and testing, The best part is I dont need the ISO. I can simply install it as a repo and pull from it. The actual Operating System is solid but sometimes it does feel a little bloated. For anyone coming from Kali or Parrot your tools are right click.
Like someone else said I wish there was more of a description for each tool and what it is good for. Overall I really like BlackArch as both a repo and an OS it pairs really good with EndeavourOS + BlackArch Repo it is really smooth overall recommend but you have to put the work in yourself to know what to do with it. If your newer just start on Parrot.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2021.09.01
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-02-16
Votes: 4


One of the best and large collection of penetration tools distro.
Feels like having real power of hacking.
I love the installing the blackarch because it gives me freedom to configure properly whatever i want.
I love the transparency between os and user.
I have used debian linux for long time now love to switch into arch linux. Its very privacy oriented os
I suggest everyone to make contribute into blackarch linux and make few more editions of it.
Thank you for making such a great linux distro blackarch.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2021.09.01
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-10-06
Votes: 10


Really best sec distro ever.... lots of all apps included, some troubles to configure compatibility, and continuous updates keyring setup.
Like all arch distro is extensively documented in arch forum, I try Kali and Parrot, and never change from archlinux with bspwm. Only for try endeavour with blackarch repository on I3 similar experience.

Advantages: Really higly configurable and customized ways to all use
Disadvanatages: Need advanced user of arch for manage settings and potential of distro


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