I didn't know you were supposed to disable root user...
I didn't know you were supposed to disable root user...
Background: 15 years of experience in software and apparently spoiled because it was already set up correctly.
Been practicing doing my own servers, published a test site and 24 hours later, root was compromised.
Rolled back to the backup before I made it public and now I have a security checklist.
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Do not allow username/password login for ssh. Force certificate authentication only!
Do not allow username/password login for ssh
This is disabled by default for the root user.
$ man sshd_config ... PermitRootLogin Specifies whether root can log in using ssh(1). The argument must be yes, prohibit-password, forced-commands-only, or no. The default is prohibit-password. ...If it's public facing, how about dont turn on ssh to the public, open it to select ips or ranges. Use a non standard port, use a cert or even a radius with TOTP like privacyIdea. How about a port knocker to open the non standard port as well. Autoban to lock out source ips.
That's just off the top of my head.
There's a lot you can do to harden a host.
dont turn on ssh to the public, open it to select ips or ranges
What if you don't have a static IP, do you ask your ISP in what range their public addresses fall?
Why though? If u have a strong password, it will take eternity to brute force