The Nxeon Blog
Guides for people who run their own servers.
Straight-talking tutorials and comparisons on VPS hosting, game servers, Linux and security. No fluff, just what actually works. 346 guides from the team that runs the servers.
Search results
54 guides for “keys” · Clear search
How to Create a Non-Root Sudo User on a VPS
Working as root all the time is dangerous. Create a dedicated sudo user, give it your SSH key, and adopt least-privilege as your default way of working.
How to Scan a Linux Server for Malware (rkhunter, ClamAV)
Even hardened servers get probed. Learn to scan for rootkits and malware with rkhunter and ClamAV, read the results, and respond to a real detection.
How to Manage Secrets and Environment Variables on a VPS
Hardcoded API keys and passwords in code are a breach waiting to happen. Learn to store secrets in env files, systemd, and vaults — the right way.
How to Secure Docker Containers
Containers aren't secure by default. Run as non-root, drop capabilities, limit resources, scan images and lock down the daemon on your VPS.
How to Set Up Automated Backups on a VPS
A backup you never tested isn't a backup. Build an automated, offsite, restorable backup routine for files and databases with rsync, cron and the 3-2-1 rule.
How to Secure a Self-Hosted WordPress Site
WordPress powers a huge share of the web, which makes it a huge target. Harden your self-hosted install at the server, app, and login layers.
How to Protect a VPS from Brute-Force Attacks
Bots relentlessly guess logins against every public server. Here's a layered playbook — keys, firewall, rate limits and bans — to make brute-forcing pointless.
How to Add Two-Factor Authentication to SSH
Add a time-based one-time code on top of your SSH key for defence in depth. Set up Google Authenticator PAM without locking yourself out.
How to Disable Root Login on a VPS
The root account is every attacker's first guess. Learn to create a sudo user and disable direct root login over SSH — safely, without locking yourself out.
How to Install and Configure fail2ban
fail2ban watches your logs and automatically bans IPs that fail to log in too many times. Here's how to install it and write custom jails.
How to Set Up SSH Key Authentication and Disable Passwords
Stop relying on passwords. Generate an SSH key pair, install your public key on the VPS, and turn password logins off for good.
How to Harden SSH on a Linux VPS
A practical, copy-paste guide to locking down the SSH daemon on your VPS — the single most important service to secure on a public server.
Deploy your first server in under a minute.
Creating an account is free and takes no card details. Every guide here runs on a Nxeon VPS or game server.