Top Tips to Secure Your Linux VPS Hosting

Knowing how to secure your Linux VPS hosting is crucial to avoid cyber threats and ensure your virtual server’s safety.

Understanding Linux VPS Security and Its Vulnerabilities

While Linux VPS security is generally robust, it does have some vulnerabilities that cyber threats can exploit. It’s essential to be aware of these vulnerabilities to protect your server effectively. Here are some common threats:

Malware: Intrusive software like Trojans, ransomware, viruses, and spyware designed to harm your server.
Sniffing Attack: A hacker intercepts and extracts data from your network using packet sniffers.
Brute-Force Attack: An attacker guesses login credentials using trial and error.
SQL Injection: A hacker exploits code in a web application to access the server’s database.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): A hacker injects malicious code into a website.
No Function-Level Control: Unauthorized users gain root privileges due to improper access verification.
Broken Authentication: Identity theft due to unencrypted data, weak passwords, or poor session timeouts.

Key Elements to Monitor on Your VPS

Before implementing security measures, monitor these crucial elements in your virtual private server:

VPS hosting security
Server software
SSH connection
Root access and logins
Passwords and credentials
Firewalls
FTP connection
User rights and privileges
Server logs

16 VPS Security Tips to Protect Your Server

1. Research Your Web Hosting Security

Your VPS hosting provider should have a strong security infrastructure. Providers like Hostinger offer comprehensive security practices, such as:

Web application firewall
Suhosin PHP hardening
PHP open_basedir protection
BitNinja’s full-stack server protection
Advanced DDoS mitigation
Monarx anti-malware
Secure sockets layer (SSL)

2. Change the Default SSH Port

Using the default SSH port (22) can make your server more vulnerable to attacks. Change it to enhance security:

Open Terminal and log in to SSH.
Edit the service configuration file with nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config.
Locate Port 22, change it to a new port number, and save the changes.
Restart the SSH service with service ssh restart for Debian/Ubuntu or systemctl restart sshd.service for CentOS/RHEL.

3. Disable Root Login

Disabling root login enhances security. Create an alternative user with root-level command privileges:

Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and set PermitRootLogin=no.
Restart the SSH service with the appropriate command for your OS.

4. Use Strong Passwords

Create complex passwords using numbers, symbols, and varied characters. Change them regularly and avoid sharing them.

5. Start Using SSH Keys

Use SSH keys for VPS authentication to enhance security:

Generate keys using ssh-keygen -t rsa.
Follow prompts to save keys and set a passphrase.

6. Setup an Internal Firewall (IP tables)

Set up a firewall to filter requests and prevent malicious traffic:

Install iptables with sudo apt-get install iptables.
Check configuration with sudo iptables -L -v.

7. Configure Your UFW

Use UFW to manage firewall rules easily:

Enable UFW with sudo ufw enable.
If needed, install with sudo apt-get install ufw.
Verify status with sudo ufw status.

8. Using SFTP Instead of FTP

SFTP encrypts data and credentials, unlike FTP, enhancing security:

Connect with sftp user@server_ipaddress or sftp user@remotehost_domainname.

9. Set Up Fail2Ban

Fail2Ban monitors logs and blocks IPs after failed login attempts:

Install with sudo apt-get install fail2ban.
Check status with sudo systemctl status fail2ban.

10. Install an Antivirus

Install ClamAV on CentOS for virus protection:

Install EPEL with sudo yum -y install epel-release.
Install ClamAV with sudo yum -y install clamav-server clamav-data clamav-update clamav-filesystem clamav clamav-scanner-systemd clamav-devel clamav-lib clamav-server-systemd.

11. Use a Malware Scanner

Enhance security with a malware scanner like Monarx, included with Hostinger VPS plans. Follow setup steps in your Members Area.

12. Set Up a VPN for Your VPS

Set up a VPN to encrypt traffic and mask your IP address:

Install OpenVPN on CentOS.
Set up with commands including sudo rpm --install openvpn-as-*.rpm.
Access UI and set a password.

13. Review User Rights

Limit user access to prevent unauthorized server modifications:

Create groups with sudo addgroup my_group.
Manage users with adduser first_user and modify access with sudo usermod commands.

14. Disable IPv6

Disable IPv6 to reduce potential vulnerabilities:

Edit /etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf to disable IPv6.
Apply changes with sudo sysctl -p.

15. Monitor Your Server Logs

Regularly monitor logs in /var/log to detect unusual activity:

Change directory with cd /var/log.
View logs with sudo cat syslog.

16. Keep Your Applications Up to Date

Regularly update software to patch vulnerabilities:

Use sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade on Debian/Ubuntu.
Use sudo yum update on CentOS/RHEL.

For automated updates, configure yum-cron on CentOS/RHEL.

Consider using Hostinger for reliable VPS hosting with robust security features.

Conclusion

Securing your VPS server is critical to protect sensitive data. While Linux is known for its robust security, it’s not immune to vulnerabilities. By implementing the security tips outlined in this guide, you can significantly enhance your VPS hosting security. If you have any questions or additional tips, feel free to leave a comment below.

For more information, check out our guide about web application security to further protect your site from cyber threats.

VPS Security FAQ

What is VPS security?

VPS security refers to protecting your virtual private servers from cyber threats like SQL injection, malware, and sniffing attacks. It involves proper server management, bug patching, and applying security features.

Why Is VPS security important?

Weak VPS security can make your server vulnerable to attacks, compromising privacy, leaking sensitive data, and causing financial losses. It can also harm a business’s reputation, affecting sales and customer trust.

Is VPS hosting more secure than other types of hosting?

VPS is generally more secure than shared hosting due to isolated resources and additional security features. VPS and dedicated hosting offer similar security levels, but VPS includes automatic failover to prevent data loss.

Does VPS have a firewall?

Yes, VPS typically has a pre-configured firewall that users can adjust. Linux distributions offer built-in firewall applications like Uncomplicated Firewall and iptables.

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