How can I setup SSH private key authentication?
 

I heard there's a more secure way to log onto Linux using SSH, I think it's called SSH private key authentication. How does it work? Is it really more secure than typing in passwords? And how do I set it up?

Public Key exchange authentication uses a Private and Public key.
The SSH server has the User's public key stored.
The SSH client has the User's private key. Only this User has the private key.

When the SSH client connects it decrypts the authentication token with the private key and responds with an answer ... as only the User with the Private key can do this, it ensures secure authentication.

You will find many pages if you google.

Including an old, but still relevant tutorial, right here at LQ.

I've been using the step by step howto here http://sial.org/howto/openssh/publickey-auth/ for reference for years. They have a number of other similar howtos related to ssl, ssh, etc. Very knowledgeable, clear and to the point.