Linux VPS Security Guide for CentOS Servers

Linux VPS Security involves safeguarding your Linux virtual private server from unauthorized access and malware. Key actions include changing default SSH ports, disabling root login, enabling firewalls, updating software, and regular backups for robust protection.

🤖AI Overview:

Linux VPS Security is essential to protect Linux-based virtual private servers from hacking attempts, malware, and unauthorized access. Important measures include altering default settings such as SSH ports, disabling root logins, maintaining software updates, installing firewalls, and enforcing strong authentication methods. These steps ensure server stability and data safety.

How To Increase CentOS Linux VPS Security

You must have heard that security is never 100%, this is absolutely true. The world of Linux is very large and your server may be attacked in different ways at any time. So let’s take measures to increase our CentOS Linux VPS security by following the steps mentioned in this thread. In this tutorial, we will explain all the requirements for you. All you need to do the following is to have a little knowledge about Linux systems as well as a little patience!

1. Install a Rootkit Scanner

A rootkit is considered by many security experts to be the most dangerous type of malware. In fact, rootkits are a type of malware that has the ability to hide at the core of the operating system, and sometimes no one can find them, even antivirus. Interestingly, some rootkits hide in antivirus software, and this is the way how they put your CentOS Linux VPS security in danger.

Rootkits put themselves at the highest level of user access after being placed in the operating system, or in Linux and Unix terms, in the Root Access or Super User layer, and sometimes that is why they put the name Rootkit on themselves. They can be used by many hackers for many purposes. A hacker can use a remote rootkit to have full and high-level access to your system and can install other malware he needs through the same rootkit.

2. Change the SSH Port

CentOS protection is just like all other Linux distributions. Almost everyone, especially hackers, is well aware that the default port for the SSH protocol is 22. By changing this port, you can make the work of hackers a little harder so that they can plan an attack on this port and put your CentOS Linux VPS security in danger. To do this, open the SSH file with one of your editors, such as Nano or VIM.

# cd /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts
# ls 
# nano ifcfg-ens160

Note: Before making changes, be sure to list the new port that you want to set, in the firewall whitelist to avoid any problems.

Then change 22 to your desired port and save the file. Also, after doing this, restart the SSH service once to apply the changes.

CentOS:

systemctl restart sshd.service

Ubuntu / Debian:

systemctl restart ssh

3. Enable cPHulk in WHM

cPHulk is a tool that protects your server against brute-force attacks. Brute force is a method that hackers use to find the password of a service or web server. cPHulk acts as a secondary antivirus or firewall in the Control Panel and protects your user accounts.

Which Service Does cPHulk  Monitor?

• WHM / cPanel
• POP3 / IMAP / SMTP (communications such as email and webmail)
• FTP / SFTP
• SSH

CPHulk can also automatically block or lock the following:

• IP addresses that have been attempted to enter.
• User accounts that have been misused by repeated attempts.

Which Methods Do cPHulk  Block?

• Temporary Block – The block will expire after the allotted time.
• Daily Block – In this case, the account or IP address will be locked for 24 hours.
• Permanent block – This will happen after several temporary blocks.

4. Disable Login with Root Username

Disabling the root user is one of the actions of server administrators in order to increase CentOS Linux VPS security. The root user has unlimited access to the operating system. This user has access to all commands and files in the system to read, write, and execute. The root user is used to build and define a new user, install and delete software packages, and configure operating systems and software. Due to this level of user access, it is better to disable this user due to security issues. Instead, create an admin user and use the sudo command when needed for root access.

Note: Before disabling the root user, create a user first.

5. Disable Open Ports

Port scanning is the process of checking open ports on a victim’s computer. In fact, by ordering to check the open ports, the victim’s computer is hacked, although important network ports for hacking are more popular today. In the port scanning process, the attacker connects to various TCP and UDP ports and tries to find a list of open ports that are in listen mode. This is just like a thief looking for the open doors of a house. The victim’s computer runs several services, each listening to a specific port.

One of the best tools for checking system ports is NMap. You should use this tool to check for open and unused ports, then block them using a server firewall.

6. Keep the Server Software Up to Date

Ignoring important security updates infects many websites every day. Because most software updates are released to users when a security bug is detected and then fixed. In this case, updates to new versions will be provided and your website will be protected from very likely damage. It is very clear that if these vulnerabilities are not covered by the provided updates, your website will still be at risk of being attacked and your CentOS Linux VPS security will be in danger by all kinds of malware.

Let’s believe that these updates are not meant to make your life harder (though they may seem so!). Think for a moment about the stress and loss that will come to you when your website is hacked. So we need to take the latest updates very seriously.

What Updates We Should Never Ignore?

• Website Content Management Systems
• Plugins
• Themes
• Extensions
• Servers

7. Remove Additional Modules and Packages

Any package or tool that you do not install and use, in addition to slowing down the server, can open new ports on the system and cause problems. Also, some programs may have vulnerabilities that can create new paths for hackers and compromise your server.

8. Regular Backup of Information

Despite doing all the security precautions, because security is never 100%, it may happen that the information inside your server is lost. In this case, the only way left is to restore the data from the backup server. But what happens if you do not back up? You simply lose the information inside your server, and if this information is important and likely to be, you will suffer a lot. So be sure to back up your server data on a daily basis.

10. Install and Use Antivirus

There was a time when we believed that Linux users were not the target of cybercriminals. Most users thought that Linux was a system that was completely safe against malware and viruses, but this is not true. For years now, users have been asking this question does Linux need an antivirus?

Why is Linux considered to be more secure than Windows?

Hackers target most Windows users. The problems that malware causes on the Windows operating system are greater than those on the Linux operating system, for several reasons.

Like Windows, CentOS Linux VPS security may be in danger with a variety of malware, including viruses, worms, rootkits, keyloggers, backdoors, trojans, ransomware, and more. But because this malware does not have enough access to root access, it can not infect the Linux operating system widely. However, to deal with these threats, Linux users also need security software such as antivirus. Linux users can use ClamAV anti-virus software on their systems.

11. Use a Strong Password

Protecting information and keeping personal information confidential is not a secret to anyone. Choosing a secure password can play an important role in keeping you safe. But what features this secure password should have is something that needs to be explored. It must have occurred to you that you have forgotten your password or that you have resorted to very simple and trivial passwords to remember the password and for fear of forgetting it.

The truth is that you should never try to memorize a password because it will make you want to use a password that is simpler and this is dangerous. You will also want to use the same password for all your accounts. Instead of this, you can use a password manager, such as LastPass.

How To Set A Strong Password To Increase CentOS Linux VPS Security?

• Password Length should be at least 10 characters.
• Do not use consecutive numbers and words such as 123456 or.
• Be sure to use the numbers in the password.
• Be sure to use uppercase letters in the password.
• Do not use specific numbers such as year of birth or national ID card in your password.

In general, the password should be a combination of special characters, numbers, words, and uppercase and lowercase letters. Like the following password:

O_hcs4q!&dvSLCba4

12. Installing and Configuring a Firewall

Setting up and implementing a firewall is one of the most essential tasks for increasing CentOS security. A firewall is a system that protects your network or personal computer from intruders, unauthorized access, malicious traffic, and hacker attacks. Firewalls work by exchanging and routing packets between networks. They control and manage both incoming and outgoing traffic to the network and allow a specific person or user to enter and access a specific system according to the rules defined in them.

If you have the CentOS operating system installed on your server, we recommend using the CSF firewall. Config Server Firewall, or CSF for short, is a free and advanced software firewall for most Linux distributions and Linux-based servers. In addition to the basic firewall and packet filtering capabilities, CSF includes other security features, such as countering flood attacks as well as logging restrictions. The CSF interface is also integrated into popular Linux control panels such as Cpanel, DirectAdmin, and Webmin.

13. Monitoring Your Server

It should be noted that the main purpose of creating computer networks is to provide users with access to resources and applications on the servers, and all network equipment is configured to this end. Lack of integrated and continuous monitoring of the health and resources of servers reduces the speed of access to information and programs, disruptions, and ultimately complaints and dissatisfaction of users, and creates significant financial losses for the organization.

One of the useful tools for server monitoring is the Zabbix tool. By Installing Zabbix on CentOS, you can guarantee your CentOS Linux VPS security by monitoring it.

Conclusion

Linux VPS Security is vital to protect your server, applications, and data from cyber threats. By actively following these thirteen steps, including installing rootkit scanners, changing SSH ports, enabling brute force protection, disabling root login, closing unused ports, keeping software updated, removing unnecessary packages, taking regular backups, installing antivirus, enforcing strong password policies, setting up firewalls, and monitoring your server, you build strong defense layers.

Remember that security is an ongoing process with no absolute endpoint. Regular maintenance, updates, and vigilance are necessary to keep threats away. Implementing these measures will help keep your Linux VPS environment safe, stable, and performing well as your projects grow and attract more attention.

FAQ