Termux in 2025: What’s New and What You Should Try

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Stephano Kambeta

If you use Termux, you already know how freeing it can be to have a full Linux-like environment on your phone. The last few years brought faster package updates, better support for GUI experiments, and more stable ways to run servers and scripts. This post keeps things practical: what changed, what is worth trying, and safe projects that teach you useful skills without crossing ethical lines.

Why Termux still matters

Termux puts developer tools, scripting, and small servers into a pocket-sized Linux terminal. It is a great learning platform for programmers, IT hobbyists, and small business owners who want to test ideas without spinning up a VM. If you are tightening up security at work or at home, Termux is a lightweight environment to experiment with tools you already read about, like network scanners and responsible reconnaissance tools. For context and background on security best practices, check posts about building a security plan and network hardening for small businesses. See Cyber security plan for small business and Network security tips for small business.

What changed recently (high level)

Better package stability and fewer breakages on common mobile chipsets.
Smoother GUI experiments via VNC and X server helpers, so you can try light graphical apps safely.
Easier ways to run small web services for testing, such as static sites and simple local APIs.
More community guides focused on defensive use cases rather than offensive tooling.

All of this means Termux is more reliable for learning, for automating routine tasks, and for testing networked services on the go. If you want to turn a phone into a tiny server for development or demos, see the guide to installing and using nginx in Termux. Turn your Android into a web server (nginx).

Safe, high-value projects to try

Below are projects that teach skills you will use often. None of these require advanced privileges or promote harmful activity. Each item links to further reading from the blog where it fits naturally.

1. Quick Termux projects to build confidence

Start small. Build a CLI RSS reader, automate backups, or write a script that pulls public APIs and formats the output. A great list of starter ideas is here: Quick Termux projects you can do.

2. Local web testing and tunneling

Use Termux to prototype a small web app and expose it temporarily with a tunneling tool for demos. There are guides on using ngrok and other tunneling services in Termux; those are practical when you need to test how a site behaves on a real device. See How to install and use ngrok and the nginx guide above.

3. Network visibility and learning

Learning how networks behave is defense first. Use packet capture and analysis tools to understand traffic patterns on your own network. If you are learning network security, the blog has a primer on basic computer and network security concepts to pair with hands-on practice. See Understanding network security and the Nmap install guide for legal, ethical scanning on devices you own. How to install and use Nmap in Termux.

4. Small developer workflows (git + Termux)

Use Termux to commit code, push to GitHub, and maintain tiny scripts from your phone. If you want a mobile commit workflow, there are posts that explain practical ways to keep a mobile-first development loop. See the Termux + GitHub ideas and tips in the project lists above.

5. Privacy, VPNs, and safe connections

When you work from public Wi-Fi, protect your traffic. The blog reviews VPNs that work well with Termux workflows and explains which providers integrate with mobile setups. Read the Surfshark review and the general VPN roundup to choose a good option. Surfshark VPN review and VPNs to use when using Termux.

What to avoid and how to stay ethical

Termux gives you tools that can be used for both defensive and offensive tasks. Use your skills to improve security, not to exploit others. The blog covers ethical boundaries, operational security, and how offensive tools can be re-framed for learning and defense. If you are curious about social engineering and phishing as a topic, read those posts for awareness only and to build defenses. For example, background on phishing tools is available as an awareness resource. MaxPhisher in Termux is linked as an example of why phishing awareness matters, not as a how-to. Also review plain guides about operational security and cyber attacks to understand risks and to defend against them. Operational security and Cyber attacks: simple guide.

Tools and learning resources worth bookmarking

Incident response and vendors — if you run a small company, it helps to know who to call when things go wrong. The post on incident response companies lists options and what to expect. Best cyber incident response companies.
Threat intelligence basics — understanding the flow of threat data helps with detection and prioritization. See What is cyber threat intelligence.
Standards and risk — tie security to business risk with practical guidance from the NISTIR overview on strategy and risk alignment. How NISTIR 8286 connects cybersecurity and business risk.
Practical Termux tooling that is defensive — netcat basics, stripping metadata, and secure file serving are helpful. See the netcat guide and a range of practical Termux how-tos. Netcat in Termux and the many tutorials in the Termux archive.

Example: a safe Termux workflow snippet

Here is a tiny example that shows the idea of keeping packages updated and creating a backup folder. This is intentionally simple and safe.

pkg update && pkg upgrade
pkg install git
mkdir -p ~/backups/configs
cp ~/.config/someapp/config.yml ~/backups/configs/

Use these snippets to practice scripting and automation. Do not run commands you do not understand. When a guide looks like it asks for passwords or actions on other people’s systems, pause and switch to an ethical learning resource instead.

Projects to try that strengthen small business security

If you support a small company, use Termux to build small, testable tools: automated log collectors for a demo environment, simple vulnerability checklists, or network mapping on assets you own. Pair these with reading on small-company security to turn experiments into a plan. See these resources: Cyber security for small companies, Internet security companies, and Computer security companies.

Keep learning — practical next steps

Pick one small project from the quick project list and finish it this week. That builds momentum. Quick Termux projects.
Protect your connections with a tested VPN on mobile. Read the Surfshark review and choose a provider that fits your needs. Surfshark VPN review.
Turn experiments into a small security plan for your devices. Use the small business security plan post as a template and adapt it to personal or team needs. Cyber security plan for small business.

Parting advice

Termux is a tool. In 2025 it is more stable and more useful than ever for learning, automation, and small-scale development. Use it to practice safe administration, to prototype services, and to build skills that help you secure networks and data. If you are ever unsure about a tool or a guide, revert to learning resources that explain the risk and purpose. For a compact set of core tutorials and how-tos to keep bookmarked, see the Termux archive and the installation basics: How to install Termux and Things to do after installing Termux.