someone trying to brute force me

stitchman · 12-16-2005, 10:38 AM

i was just checking out my logs and i noticed two occassions of someone using a script of some kind to log in as root and alot of random user names. as far as i saw all tries were denied. i am wondering how often this happens to anyone and should i be really worried? also is there a way to shut down log in capabilities if it is detected that someone is trying to brute force their way in?

Gort32 · 12-16-2005, 10:43 AM

Generally this is just part of the background whitenoise on the Internet... If you have strong passwords you should be safe. If you are paranoid (not a bad thing) look into Snort - it can handle keeping track of your system for you.

robrecc · 12-16-2005, 10:43 AM

Are these ssh attacks. If so I would take a look at hosts deny from sourcefoge. I would also read up on securing the sshd_config file

keefaz · 12-16-2005, 10:47 AM

You're opening your TCP 22 port,
sometime someone run a script that scans the network,
he/she see your port is open and need to test your
password strategy.

It is not uncommon, some run ssh on different ports
and other simply don't run ssh at all

soulestream · 12-16-2005, 11:32 AM

cd /etc/ssh/sshd_config

uncomment PermintRootLogin no <-may need to change to no.

all the script kiddies out there are trying common passwords with root as the user. Dont let the root account login, then someone has to quess your password (use a good one) and your username.

after you are in you an always su to root

soule

Hangdog42 · 12-16-2005, 11:38 AM

One other approach would be to move to public/private key authentication and disable username/password logins for ssh altogether. Then the script kiddies can try all the combinations they want and don't have a snowballs chance in hell of getting in.

EclipseAgent · 12-16-2005, 11:49 AM

Just a newbie question, but what logs were you checking? Thanks.

stitchman · 12-16-2005, 11:52 AM

im a newb too, but heres the log for checking that sort of thing.../var/log/messages

thanks for all the responces everyone.

Darin · 12-16-2005, 02:02 PM

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=340366

That's the security forum sticky on the matter, they have pretty much beat this old horse down in there.