Overview
PakOS 12 Highlights
Getting Started
Conclusion
Overview
PakOS is a Debian-based desktop Linux distribution born out of a desire to offer a responsive, resource-efficient environment tailored originally for users in Pakistan but equally comfortable elsewhere. Its development began with a focus on simplicity, speed and security, providing a streamlined experience on both modern hardware and older machines with limited resources. The default desktop environment, LXQt, combines a clean interface with minimal memory demands, making it ideal for laptops, netbooks and repurposed PCs that might struggle under heavier systems.
Under the hood, PakOS leverages the stability of Debian’s stable branch, ensuring users receive well-tested packages and long-term support. Software is managed through standard Debian repositories augmented by a custom PakOS repository for selected security and utility tools. Installation is handled by the Calamares graphical installer, offering encrypted storage and easy partitioning options. Together, these elements establish a robust foundation for both novice users seeking an intuitive desktop and experienced administrators craving a lightweight, customisable platform.
From day one, security has been a central tenet. Out-of-the-box features include a user-friendly firewall interface, Firejail sandboxing for applications, antivirus support and the Lynis security auditing tool. These provisions allow users to audit system integrity, isolate network-facing programs and block unwanted traffic without diving into complex command-line configuration. Combined with the inclusion of mainstream productivity software and multimedia codecs, PakOS presents an “all-in-one” solution for office work, web browsing and basic development tasks.
The project draws on contributions from communities and organisations dedicated to open-source advancement. Early releases established PakOS on SourceForge as the first publicly accessible Pakistani Linux distribution, earning recognition on DistroWatch as an official Debian derivative. Over successive iterations, developers fine-tuned performance, expanded language support and enhanced localisations to accommodate Urdu input and regional settings. Today, PakOS stands as a testament to collaborative development, offering a usable system for everyday computing while embedding advanced security and modern conveniences.
PakOS appeals not only to newcomers but also to power users who appreciate the ability to customise themes, tweak desktop layouts and integrate advanced tools. Whether you require a stable workplace machine, an educational platform for students or a secure kiosk at a public venue, the distribution’s modular design supports diverse use cases. Development snapshots, a friendly Discord community and plain-spoken documentation ensure that any hurdles are promptly addressed, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and peer support.
PakOS 12 Highlights
PakOS 12, nicknamed the End of 10 edition, marks a significant milestone in the project’s evolution. This release is made possible through collaboration with Gelecek Technologies as well as AXI Technologies and carries forward the core philosophy of offering a hardened, user-centred distribution. At its heart is a focus on defensive cybersecurity, with built-in monitoring and auditing tools that require minimal setup.
A graphical interface has been added for Zabbix network monitoring and the Wazuh SIEM agent, allowing administrators to input server addresses and ports via dialogue boxes instead of manually editing configuration files. These tools enable real-time event detection, log analysis and security incident management straight from the desktop. Base firewall rules conform to CIS Benchmarks level 1 hardening, implemented using modified open-source scripts drawn from OVH’s Debian CIS repository. The inclusion of Lynis auditing provides immediate feedback on system security posture, paving the way for iterative improvements.
With PakOS 12 (End of 10 Edition), these brand-new hardening scripts boost your system’s security score from a modest 62 all the way up to 82 once fully applied. That’s a solid leap in protection!
If you're aiming for compliance, the CIS (Center for Internet Security) hardening scripts are also included. Once you run them, your system’s CIS compliance jumps to an impressive 80%.
Now, here’s the catch: developing hardening scripts takes time. Even CIS releases them only after thorough testing and long development cycles. That’s why this edition of PakOS is still built on Debian 12—it’s stable, secure, and fully supported by the available hardening tools.
Thinking about upgrading to Debian 13? Technically, you can—but proceed with caution. Since no official hardening scripts exist for Debian 13 yet, compatibility is uncertain and could even cause system instability. So you’ve got two paths:
- Upgrade to Debian 13 (if you're feeling adventurous and can handle potential hiccups).
- Stick with Debian 12 and take full advantage of the hardening scripts for a fortified, compliant setup.
Either way, you’re in control—just make sure your choice aligns with your security needs and risk tolerance.
Every application port outside the default ruleset can be managed through a simple UFW GUI, empowering users to whitelist or block traffic without terminal commands. A dedicated “Firefox Secure” menu entry launches the browser inside a Firejail sandbox by default, though users may disable sandboxing or switch search engines between DuckDuckGo and Google at will.
The browser itself is installed from Mozilla’s official repository, guaranteeing the latest security patches and privacy features are just a few clicks away through the new GUI update manager.
Office productivity saw a boost with the return of OnlyOffice, now updated to the latest version and configured for native Urdu text input. This ensures seamless document creation, spreadsheet handling and presentation design in multiple languages.
Meanwhile, the newly integrated AI Assistant offers lightweight access to Microsoft Copilot, Google’s Gemini, Poe and Black Box AI agents. Users simply authenticate with a Microsoft or Google account to harness generative AI for writing, coding assistance or research prompts.
Time synchronisation has been fully automated courtesy of a preconfigured NTP service, which adjusts system clocks on every network connection to guarantee timestamp accuracy. The Rofi-based launcher has been enhanced to mimic a familiar Windows 11-style menu, now including quick file browsing alongside application and window lists.
On first boot, GRUB applies a custom theme and walks users through optional manual hardening steps, delivering a polished visual overhaul and reinforcing security defaults.
Behind the scenes, PakOS 12 continues to build on the solid scripting foundation provided by the Eznix project. Developers have fine-tuned desktop themes, wallpapers and menu presets to deliver a cohesive out-of-the-box experience. Numerous minor tweaks—ranging from startup performance enhancements to peripheral support improvements—round off this release, which positions PakOS as a versatile, secure and modern desktop platform.
Getting Started
Installing PakOS is straightforward. Download the PakOS 12 Hardened ISO from the project’s SourceForge repository and write it to a USB drive using your preferred imaging tool. Booting into the live environment allows you to explore the desktop, test hardware compatibility and verify that key features such as the AI Assistant and Zabbix monitor function as expected. When you’re ready, launch the Calamares installer to walk through localisation, disk encryption, network configuration and user account creation in a guided manner.
System requirements remain modest: a dual-core processor, 2 GB of RAM for light usage or 4 GB for comfortable multitasking, and 20 GB of storage. While the default LXQt desktop thrives on older machines, optional support for alternative environments can be enabled post-installation via the PakOS GUI software manager.
The PakOS central hub manages theme downloads, update notifications and custom boot sequences without resorting to the command line.
Thanks for such a detailed review. I will place it on my Sourceforge pages.
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