VPS is an ideal choice for all types of businesses because it balances performance and cost. However, like any other server, it must be protected against Brute-Force attacks.
A brute force attack involves repeated attempts to guess a user’s password and gain unauthorized access to their account. This attack can compromise server data and take complete control of the server.
First, buy VPS from a reputable provider that includes security essentials. Gaining more information about this choice can simplify your decision-making process.
Then, use complex passwords, enable 2FA authentication, and Disable Root Server Logins to make your server as secure as possible.
What is a Brute Force Attack?
During a brute force attack, hackers try combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols through trial and error to discover usernames and passwords for unauthorized access.
This attack is the most common hacking attack that can be successfully carried out due to the vulnerability of login credentials and the authentication system.
If you do not take the necessary precautions, a Brute Force Attack can have the following consequences:
Theft of confidential and sensitive VPS server data
Unauthorized manipulation of server settings
Installation of malicious malware for various purposes
Generating malicious traffic to consume excessive resources
Increase load, slow down performance, and even make the server unavailable
Using the server to carry out subsequent attacks, such as DDoS
Unauthorized entry into the website management system and misuse of it
Therefore, consider buying a secure VPS and implementing solutions to prevent hackers from using the server to perform malicious actions.
10 Best Practices to Prevent Brute Force Attacks on VPS
Brute force attacks deal with the login and authentication process of user accounts, so solutions to prevent these attacks should also be in the area of:
1. Use Unique and Complex Passwords
Username and password are the basic requirements for logging into user accounts and are the first line of defense against unauthorized access to the VPS server.
You should set a complex and unguessable password for the account so that it cannot be identified even through repeated trial and error attempts.
To choose a suitable password, you can consider the following points:
The password length should be at least 12 characters.
The password must include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Do not use predictable patterns such as 123456 and password.
Do not use guessable personal information such as first name, last name, birthday, or organization name.
Use different passwords for different accounts.
Use unusual words or combinations of unrelated words to create passwords.
Use password manager tools to create complex passwords.
Ensure you update your passwords every 60 to 90 days to enhance their security and make them harder to guess or crack.
2. Restrict Root Access and Disable Root Logins
The root account, which has full access to the VPS, is a prime target for brute force attacks. If you don’t restrict its access, your server will be vulnerable to these attacks.
To solve this problem, you can disable root login for regular users and instead create a dedicated administrator account with limited privileges to control server operations.
You should also limit the number of administrators with root access to reduce the risk of unauthorized access and maintain server security.
3. Use SSH Key Authentication
Instead of relying on the traditional authentication method (username and password), you can use SSH to access your VPS securely.
The authentication method is that a pair of SSH keys is generated. The public key is added to the VPS, and the private key is stored on your local device.
Each time you log in, the system verifies the public-private key match. If successful, access is granted. Even if a hacker has the public key, they cannot connect without your private key.
This authentication method makes brute force attacks nearly impossible for unauthorized server access.
4. Use Two-Factor Authentication
If you want to make the authentication process even more complicated, you can also use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) in addition to the previous methods (username-password and SSH Keys).
With this method, authentication relies on two factors: the first is the information you know (such as a password), and the second is a key you have in another way.
This key can be a unique code generated by the Authenticator app, a hardware security key, or a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint.
Implementing and using the tools or software necessary for two-factor authentication creates a double-lock system. Even if a hacker opens the first lock, they still can’t access the server without going through the second lock.
5. Restrict User Privileges
Having many users on a VPS creates multiple entry points for hackers. If these users possess excessive and unnecessary privileges, the potential attack surface for malicious activities expands.
Limit each user’s privileges to the bare minimum required, ensuring that even if a hacker gains access to their account, their ability to cause damage remains restricted.
This is the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP), which restricts users’ access to only the essential rights needed for their tasks to maintain overall system security.
6. Set Up A Firewall To Block Brute Force Attacks
A firewall acts as a protective wall for the server, controlling incoming and outgoing traffic based on the rules you set.
If you can configure the firewall correctly, your VPS security against Brute Force Attacks will be significantly enhanced.
To get started effectively, you can implement the following steps with the firewall:
Create a whitelist of trusted IP addresses.
Create a blacklist of specific IP addresses or ranges associated with malicious activity.
Restrict access to only known and approved entities.
Restrict access to specific ports.
Limit the number of login attempts.
Block access from suspicious IPs after a certain number of failed attempts.
Limit the number of requests coming from an IP in a specified period (Rate Limiting).
Monitor and analyze firewall logs.
Keep the firewall up to date.
7. Change Default Port of Communication Protocols
When you decide to buy VPS server for better managing your projects or tasks, it’s important to understand that you will connect to it using communication protocols like SSH or RDP.
These protocols have default port numbers that hackers know. As a result, changing their port numbers makes it harder for hackers to locate the entry point to your VPS server.
To enhance server security, open the configuration file of the respective protocol and assign a new port number to it.
You should use a port number that is not being used by another service and is as unpredictable as possible.
8. Use Brute Force Attack Detection Tools
Brute force attack detection tools identify and prevent unauthorized automated attempts to guess user credentials.
In this way, they continuously monitor and analyze login activities to quickly identify any unusual automated behavior.
If you choose Windows OS when buying a VPS, Windows Defender Firewall and RdpGuard are tools for preventing brute-force attacks.
If you decide to buy VPS with the Linux operating system, Fail2Ban, and DenyHosts are suitable tools for blocking IPs suspected of brute force attacks.
9. Keep Operating System And Applications Updated
Continuous updates to the operating system and applications are accompanied by the following positive changes:
Fixing security vulnerabilities in critical services such as SSH or RDP
Improving security protocols related to encryption, authentication, and login mechanisms
Strengthening firewalls and intrusion detection systems to identify suspicious traffic patterns better
Increasing access management and authentication capabilities
Fixing security issues related to important applications such as databases, web servers, and cloud services
Improving the performance of server monitoring and reporting analysis tools
10. Monitor Logs and React to Suspicious Activities
Regularly reviewing server logs helps detect failed logins early and provides insights to prevent brute force attacks.
Using automated monitoring tools and real-time notifications can speed up the process of detecting unusual patterns and remediating threats.
What To Do After A Successful Brute Force Attack?
If you detect a successful brute force attack through signs like unexpected setting changes, decreased VPS performance, or unusual behavior, take the following actions immediately:
Terminate all active sessions.
Check security logs and identify suspicious connections.
Identify the hacker’s IP address and the way they entered.
Block their IP address using a firewall.
Change passwords, SSH keys, and other sensitive information immediately.
Check system settings and files.
If necessary, restore the system to a secure version with a reliable backup.
Then, implement all the previously reviewed solutions to make your VPS more resistant to such attacks.
If you are still concerned about the security of your VPS, try to make a radical decision and buy VPS from a more reliable and secure provider.
Conclusion
Brute-force attacks involve repeated attempts to discover login credentials. If successful, these attacks can disrupt the entire state and performance of the VPS.
So, try to implement the solutions introduced to eliminate your server’s vulnerabilities to a large extent. This will allow you to continue using the server in a more secure and stable state.
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Originally Published on Martech Zone: 10 Essential Tips to Prevent Brute Force Attack on VPS