The Forbidden Linux Distros: 5 OSes You’ll Never Find on Google

When you think of Linux distributions, what comes to mind? Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Debian? These mainstream distros are well-documented, community-supported, and heavily indexed by search engines. But beyond the surface of the open-source world lies a darker, more mysterious landscape—one filled with forbidden, forgotten, and fringe operating systems. These are the Linux distros that defy convention, challenge authority, or simply fall into obscurity due to controversial goals or extreme ideologies.

In this article, we delve into five such Linux distributions that you won’t find easily on Google, either due to censorship, intentional obscurity, or legal gray areas. These distros raise important questions about freedom, control, and the very nature of open-source software.

1. TempleOS Successor Projects

While not Linux in the strictest sense, TempleOS and its spiritual successors represent a significant part of the fringe OS world. TempleOS was created by the late Terry A. Davis, a brilliant but troubled programmer who claimed to receive divine inspiration for his work. Built entirely from scratch, TempleOS was a 16-bit, non-networked OS meant to serve as the Third Temple, according to Davis’ religious beliefs.

TempleOS is unique in its architecture and philosophy: it runs on a homegrown programming language called HolyC, features a biblical theme, and lacks any kind of modern networking stack or security model. Despite these limitations, it gained a cult following for its raw purity and the story behind it.

In recent years, several unofficial successor projects have emerged, attempting to modernize TempleOS while retaining its core ideology. These include:

• ZealOS: A fork of TempleOS aiming to bring more usability and modern hardware support without abandoning its biblical and spiritual themes.
• LoseThos: A precursor to TempleOS that some still use today, despite its outdated design.
• HimmelOS: A lesser-known project inspired by TempleOS but integrating minimal networking and driver support.

These projects often exist in niche corners of the internet and are intentionally difficult to discover through mainstream search engines, in part due to the controversial statements and erratic behavior of their original creator.

2. FBI-Backdoored Distros (e.g., SELKS)

SELKS is a lesser-known Linux distro that markets itself as a “turnkey Suricata IDS/IPS/NSM” solution. While not officially backdoored, SELKS and similar security-focused Linux distributions often raise eyebrows due to their close association with cybersecurity firms that work with intelligence agencies.

The concern stems from:

• Bundled surveillance tools: SELKS includes a full suite of network monitoring utilities that could, in theory, be used for mass surveillance.
• Opaque development chains: Some of the tools included in these distros are maintained by contributors who have worked on government contracts or security consulting for agencies like the NSA or FBI.
• Potential telemetry: While most of these distros are open source, subtle telemetry scripts or configurations might escape scrutiny.

Whether or not SELKS is actually backdoored remains speculative. But in the paranoid corridors of cybersecurity forums, it’s not uncommon to see SELKS and similar distros discussed as tools of the surveillance state.

Other distros accused of being compromised include:

• TAILS: Despite its focus on anonymity, some believe TAILS has been targeted or compromised by intelligence agencies.
• Qubes OS: A hypervisor-based security OS often recommended by whistleblowers like Edward Snowden, yet paradoxically viewed with suspicion due to its complexity and funding origins.

These accusations often lack hard evidence but reflect a deep mistrust of any software that touches the domain of digital surveillance.

3. LibraBoot and Other Blob-Free OSes

Libreboot isn’t a Linux distro per se; it’s a free BIOS or firmware replacement for select computer hardware. However, it often comes bundled with GNU/Linux systems that are 100% free according to the Free Software Foundation’s standards. These include distros like Trisquel, Parabola, and Guix System.

Libreboot and its ecosystem aim to eliminate all proprietary binaries (a.k.a. “blobs”) from the boot process. This pursuit of purity has led to:

• Limited hardware support: Only certain older ThinkPad models are fully compatible.
• Conflicts with mainstream Linux: Most Linux distributions include some proprietary firmware by default, making Libreboot-influenced systems incompatible.
• Tension within the free software community: Even among open-source advocates, there is debate over whether complete de-blobbed systems are practical.

The movement has faced suppression on several fronts:

• Search engine de-indexing: Websites discussing 100% libre hardware and software are sometimes removed from search engine caches.
• Vendor hostility: Manufacturers actively discourage firmware modification, citing security concerns.

Despite this, a dedicated community persists, sharing knowledge on forums, IRC channels, and hidden services.

4. Anarchist and Cyberpunk Linux Distros

There exists a class of Linux distributions tailored for activists, hackers, and those who believe in radical transparency or digital anarchism. These distros are often designed for:

• Stealth: Booting from RAM, leaving no traces on host machines.
• Encryption: Full-disk encryption by default, with tools for plausible deniability.
• Obfuscation: Bypassing firewalls, deep packet inspection, and other surveillance mechanisms.

Examples include:

• Parrot OS: While relatively mainstream, it’s frequently used in hacker circles.
• Tinfoil Hat Linux: An ultra-paranoid distro that disables almost every form of input/output.
• BlackArch: A penetration testing distro based on Arch Linux, used by white-hats and black-hats alike.

Many of these distros are suppressed by default in search engine results due to the tools they include, which could be used for illegal purposes. Others are voluntarily pulled by creators wary of drawing attention from authorities.

Some truly forbidden variants exist only as torrents or dark web downloads, shared among close-knit hacker communities. Their documentation is scarce, and they often require deep technical knowledge to even boot.

5. Custom Nationalist and Ideological Distros

Another controversial subset of Linux distributions includes those developed around political ideologies, often far-right or ultra-nationalist. These distros usually:

• Customize the user interface with propaganda
• Pre-install software aligned with their beliefs
• Block access to certain websites or mainstream platforms

Examples, though rarely mentioned publicly, have included:

• National OSes developed in authoritarian countries for surveillance and propaganda control.
• Niche ideological forks of Debian or Arch used within extremist communities.

These distros are often banned or delisted by major repositories and mirrors. Distributing or even talking about them online can draw unwanted legal scrutiny in some jurisdictions. As a result, they survive only in private forums or peer-to-peer networks.

Their existence challenges the idea that open-source software is always a force for good. Like any tool, Linux can be molded to serve any ideology—even the most dangerous ones.

Conclusion: The Price of Freedom

The beauty of Linux lies in its openness. Anyone can fork it, reshape it, and build upon it. But with that freedom comes the inevitability that some will use it in controversial or even malicious ways. The distros mentioned in this article are not necessarily evil, but they dwell in ethical, legal, and philosophical gray zones.

Some are born from paranoia, others from idealism. Some are censored; others are hidden by choice. But they all reflect one undeniable truth: Linux is not just an operating system. It is a mirror of humanity’s diverse, conflicted, and sometimes dangerous spirit.

So next time you boot into your safe, secure Ubuntu system, remember—there’s a whole underground of forbidden Linux distros you’ll never find on Google. But they exist. And they have stories to tell.