How to Protect Your VPS Against Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks have become one of the most dangerous cybersecurity threats in recent years. These attacks encrypt your data and demand a ransom for its release, causing downtime, financial losses, and sometimes permanent data loss.

If you’re running a VPS, you are a target—but with the right security practices, you can significantly reduce the risk. In this guide, we’ll show you how to protect your VPS from ransomware attacks.


✅ 

What is Ransomware and Why Target VPS?

Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts your files or system, rendering them unusable until a ransom is paid. VPS servers are attractive targets because:

  • They often host business-critical applications
  • Many users fail to apply security updates
  • Weak configurations leave them exposed to attacks

Top Ways to Secure Your VPS from Ransomware


✅ 

1. Keep Your System Updated

Unpatched systems are the most common entry point for attackers.

Update your VPS regularly:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y   # For Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf update -y                      # For CentOS/AlmaLinux

✅ 

2. Use Strong SSH Security

  • Disable root login
  • Use SSH keys instead of passwords
  • Change the default SSH port

Example:

PermitRootLogin no
PasswordAuthentication no
Port 2222

Restart SSH:

systemctl restart ssh

✅ 

3. Enable a Firewall

Limit access to essential ports only.

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo ufw allow 2222/tcp
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
sudo ufw enable

✅ 

4. Install Fail2Ban

Block brute-force attempts:

sudo apt install fail2ban -y    # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install fail2ban -y    # CentOS/AlmaLinux

✅ 

5. Use Real-Time Malware Protection

Install tools like ClamAV or Maldet to detect malicious files:

sudo apt install clamav -y

✅ 

6. Secure Web Applications

  • Keep CMS platforms like WordPress up to date
  • Use strong admin passwords
  • Install security plugins and WAF (Web Application Firewall)

✅ 

7. Enable Regular Backups

Backups are your best defense against ransomware. Even if your server is compromised, you can restore your data without paying a ransom.

Options:

  • Use Hosteons’ VPS backup service
  • Use remote backup tools like rclone or rsync

✅ 

8. Implement Principle of Least Privilege

Only give necessary access to users and apps. Avoid running unnecessary services.


✅ 

9. Monitor Your VPS

Set up monitoring tools like:

  • fail2ban logs
  • UFW logs
  • Host-based Intrusion Detection Systems (HIDS) like OSSEC

Hosteons VPS Security Features

All Hosteons VPS plans are built for security and performance:

  • KVM Virtualization for complete isolation
  • 10Gbps Ports for high-speed secure connections
  • Full Root Access to configure your own security stack
  • IPv6 Ready
  • Affordable Plans starting at $2.99/month

👉 Order a VPS today:


Final Thoughts

Ransomware is a growing threat, but with regular updates, strong security practices, and backups, your VPS can stay protected. Don’t wait until it’s too late—secure your VPS now.

How to Secure a VPS Right After Deployment – Checklist for 2025

Deploying a VPS is the first step to building your online presence, hosting applications, or running business-critical services. But if you don’t secure it immediately after deployment, your server could become an easy target for hackers and automated bots.

Here’s a step-by-step security checklist for 2025 to harden your VPS from the start.


✅ 

1. Update Your System

Outdated packages and kernels are the biggest vulnerabilities.

Run these commands right after login:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y   # For Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf update -y                      # For CentOS/AlmaLinux

✅ 

2. Create a New User and Disable Root Login

Never use the root account for day-to-day operations.

adduser youruser
usermod -aG sudo youruser

Edit the SSH configuration:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Change:

PermitRootLogin no

Restart SSH:

systemctl restart ssh

✅ 

3. Set Up SSH Key Authentication

Passwords can be brute-forced. Use SSH keys instead.

Generate keys on your local machine:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096

Copy your public key to the VPS:

ssh-copy-id youruser@server_ip

Disable password login in /etc/ssh/sshd_config:

PasswordAuthentication no

Restart SSH again.


✅ 

4. Change the Default SSH Port

Bots scan port 22 for vulnerabilities. Change it to a non-standard port (e.g., 2222):

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Set:

Port 2222

Restart SSH:

systemctl restart ssh

✅ 

5. Enable a Firewall

Use UFW for Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo ufw allow 2222/tcp
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
sudo ufw enable

For CentOS/AlmaLinux (Firewalld):

sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=ssh --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=http --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=https --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

✅ 

6. Install Fail2Ban

Protect against brute-force attacks:

sudo apt install fail2ban -y    # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install fail2ban -y    # CentOS/AlmaLinux

Enable and start Fail2Ban:

sudo systemctl enable fail2ban
sudo systemctl start fail2ban

✅ 

7. Disable Unnecessary Services

Check running services:

systemctl list-unit-files --type=service --state=enabled

Disable what you don’t need:

sudo systemctl disable service_name

✅ 

8. Enable Automatic Security Updates

On Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades -y

On CentOS/AlmaLinux:

sudo dnf install dnf-automatic -y
sudo systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timer

✅ 

9. Install a Malware Scanner

Use ClamAV for basic malware scanning:

sudo apt install clamav -y

✅ 

10. Backup Regularly

Security is not complete without backups. Use tools like:

  • rsync
  • rclone
  • Cloud backups from your Hosteons VPS panel

Pro Tip:

Hosteons offers an Initial VPS Setup Script that secures your server instantly with best practices:

👉 GitHub Script

👉 Full Guide


Final Thoughts

Securing your VPS should never be an afterthought. With these 10 steps, you can minimize vulnerabilities and keep your server safe from evolving cyber threats in 2025.

🛡️ Ready to get started?

Order a reliable VPS now: Hosteons VPS Plans

Can You Stay Anonymous Online? Hosting with Crypto Explained

Online privacy is becoming more important than ever. Whether you’re a developer, business owner, or individual user, maintaining control over your identity and personal data is critical — especially in a world where surveillance, tracking, and data breaches are commonplace. One of the best ways to boost your privacy is by using cryptocurrency to pay for services like VPS or VDS hosting.

At HostEONS, we make anonymous hosting a reality. Here’s how.


Why Privacy Matters in Hosting

Most hosting providers require extensive personal details and perform strict verification checks, especially when payments are made through traditional gateways like credit cards or PayPal. For privacy-conscious users, that’s a red flag.

Common concerns include:

  • Exposure of personal identity
  • Data sharing with third parties
  • Risk of account suspension based on regional or political factors

How Crypto Payments Help You Stay Anonymous

Cryptocurrency allows you to make payments without linking your name, address, or banking details. When combined with a privacy-focused host like HostEONS, crypto makes near-anonymous hosting possible.

✅ No KYC (Know Your Customer) Checks

We do not require KYC for orders paid via cryptocurrency. You don’t need to submit ID, documents, or undergo verification — just place your order and start using your VPS or VDS.

✅ Wide Range of Crypto Supported

We accept:

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • USDT (TRC20 & ERC20)
  • Litecoin (LTC)
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Dogecoin (DOGE)
  • and many others via our crypto gateways

✅ No Questions Asked

Paying with crypto? We won’t ask why or for whom. You stay in control of your privacy and purpose.


How to Host Anonymously with HostEONS

  1. Visit one of our product pages:
  2. Select your plan and choose “Cryptocurrency” at checkout.
  3. Pay using your preferred crypto wallet.
  4. Get your VPS/VDS provisioned instantly (in most cases) with no identity verification.

Combine Crypto with Secure Practices

Using crypto is only part of the solution. For truly anonymous hosting, follow these best practices:

  • Use a secure, privacy-friendly email address
  • Avoid using personal domains that link to your identity
  • Secure your VPS with firewall rules, SSH keys, and fail2ban
  • Use VPN or Tor when accessing your control panel

Ideal for Developers, Privacy Enthusiasts, and Freedom Seekers

Whether you’re:

  • Running a private blog or forum
  • Deploying a VPN or proxy server
  • Hosting blockchain nodes or crypto projects
  • Or just prefer not to share your data…

HostEONS makes it easy to stay anonymous and in control of your online presence.


Get Started Today

Ditch the paperwork. Protect your privacy. Host on your terms.

🔐 Pay with crypto. No KYC. No questions asked.

Start here → https://hosteons.com

Top 5 Tips to Harden Your Linux VPS Against Attacks in 2025

In 2025, cyberattacks are more sophisticated than ever. Whether you’re hosting a personal project or critical business application, securing your Linux VPS is no longer optional—it’s essential. Thankfully, with just a few steps, you can drastically reduce your risk and keep your VPS locked down against the most common threats.

At Hosteons, we provide high-performance KVM VPS with root access, but security is a shared responsibility. Here’s how you can harden your VPS in minutes:


1. Use SSH Keys Instead of Passwords

Disable password login and use SSH key authentication for more secure, automated, and brute-force-resistant logins.

Steps:

  • Generate a key pair using ssh-keygen
  • Upload your public key to your VPS: ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
  • Disable password auth in /etc/ssh/sshd_config

👉 Read: Why You Should Use SSH Keys Instead of Passwords


2. Set Up a Firewall (UFW/iptables)

Block unnecessary ports to reduce your attack surface. Only open what’s required (e.g., 22 for SSH, 80/443 for web).

Example with UFW:

sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw allow 22
sudo ufw allow 80
sudo ufw allow 443
sudo ufw enable

3. Install and Configure Fail2Ban

Prevent brute-force attacks by banning IPs with too many failed login attempts.

Install Fail2Ban:

sudo apt install fail2ban

Create a jail for SSH and monitor logs like /var/log/auth.log or /var/log/secure.

👉 Full Fail2Ban Guide


4. Keep the System and Software Updated

Always run the latest security patches. Use tools like unattended-upgrades for automated updates.

Commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo yum update

Outdated software is one of the most exploited vulnerabilities.


5. Monitor Login Attempts and File Changes

Install tools to track unauthorized access and suspicious activity.

  • Use auditd to track system events
  • Use logwatch or logcheck to scan logs for anomalies
  • Monitor /var/log/auth.log for failed logins

👉 Read: How to Monitor Login Attempts and File Changes on Your VPS


Bonus: Disable Root Login

Prevent direct root access by using a non-root sudo user instead.

In /etc/ssh/sshd_config:

PermitRootLogin no

Final Thoughts

Hardened servers are happy servers! With these 5 simple steps, you’ll block the majority of attacks targeting Linux VPS.

At Hosteons, we give you the control, performance, and reliability — now it’s your turn to secure it.

🔐 Ready to deploy a secure VPS?

👉 Explore Our KVM VPS

👉 Premium Ryzen VPS

🚀 Instantly Secure and Set Up Your VPS with Hosteon’s Initial VPS Setup Script

Managing a new VPS can be overwhelming, especially when starting with a fresh Linux installation. That’s why we at Hosteons created a smart, interactive script to help new VPS users quickly set up their server with best practices in place—regardless of whether you’re using Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, CentOS, or Rocky Linux.


🎯 What This Script Does

Our open-source script, initial_vps_setup.sh, automates essential initial tasks, including:

  • 🔐 Creating a new sudo user
  • 📛 Checking if the user already exists and giving the option to update sudo access
  • 🧰 Installing basic tools (curl, wget, git, htop, unzip, etc.)
  • 🧱 Enabling firewall with UFW or firewalld based on your distro
  • 🔐 Optionally generating a secure SSH key pair (displays private + public key for user)
  • 🚫 Option to disable root SSH login
  • ✅ Sets correct permissions and groups

🛠️ Compatible with All Major Linux Distributions

Tested and supported on:

  • Ubuntu
  • Debian
  • AlmaLinux
  • CentOS
  • Rocky Linux

The script auto-detects your OS and executes distro-specific commands where needed.


📜 Easy to Use

Just log in as root on your new VPS and run:

curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hosteons/Initial-VPS-Setup-Script-for-Linux/main/initial_vps_setup.sh | bash

You’ll be guided through a few interactive prompts—no manual file editing required.


💻 Example Output and Access Instructions

After setup, you’ll get:

  • Username and SSH access instructions
  • SSH key (if generated)
  • Sample sudo usage instructions like:
sudo apt update
sudo systemctl restart nginx

🔐 Why It Matters

  • Security First: Disabling root login and using SSH keys makes brute-force attacks significantly harder.
  • Consistency: Every VPS is provisioned the same way—ideal for sysadmins managing multiple servers.
  • Time-Saving: No need to copy-paste multiple commands or look up tutorials.

❤️ Built and Maintained by Hosteons

This script is built and maintained by the team at Hosteons as part of our effort to make VPS hosting smoother and safer for everyone.

💾 GitHub Repo:

👉 https://github.com/hosteons/Initial-VPS-Setup-Script-for-Linux

🔐 Automatically Install Fail2Ban with Smart Jail Detection on Your VPS (Script by Hosteons)

Here’s a complete WordPress blog post draft to promote your Fail2Ban Auto-Installer script from GitHub:


🔐 Automatically Install Fail2Ban with Smart Jail Detection on Your VPS (Script by Hosteons)

At Hosteons, we’re committed to making server security easier for everyone. Whether you’re running a small VPS or managing a fleet of Linux servers, protecting against brute-force attacks is critical.

That’s why we’ve created a Fail2Ban Auto-Installer Script that not only installs Fail2Ban but also auto-detects and enables jails for common services like SSHApache, and Nginx — all in one click.

👉 GitHub Repository:

https://github.com/hosteons/Fail2Ban-Auto-Installer-With-Jail


✅ Key Features

  • Installs Fail2Ban on UbuntuDebianAlmaLinux, and CentOS
  • Detects installed services (e.g., sshd, nginx, apache) and enables jails accordingly
  • Skips jails for services not found on the system
  • Handles log file paths intelligently based on distro
  • Verifies and restarts Fail2Ban only if configuration is valid
  • Smart checks if Fail2Ban is already installed
  • Minimal and safe — logs errors clearly

🧠 How It Works

When you run the script:

  1. It detects your Linux OS flavor.
  2. Installs Fail2Ban (if not already installed).
  3. Checks if apache, nginx, or sshd is active.
  4. Adds only the appropriate jails with correct log paths.
  5. Restarts Fail2Ban and confirms its status.
  6. Provides clear output so you know it’s working.

This ensures Fail2Ban doesn’t fail due to missing log files or services — a common issue in manual configurations.


📥 How to Use

  1. Download the script:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hosteons/Fail2Ban-Auto-Installer-With-Jail/main/fail2ban_auto_installer.sh
chmod +x fail2ban_auto_installer.sh
./fail2ban_auto_installer.sh
  1. That’s it. The script handles the rest!

🚀 Need a Secure VPS?

This script runs perfectly on our KVM VPS and Ryzen VPS plans. Visit hosteons.com to explore secure hosting powered by NVMe SSD and DDoS protection — with native support for IPv6, WireGuard VPN, and more.


🔗 Related Resources

One-Click Linux Malware & Rootkit Scanner Using ClamAV and RKHunter

Secure Your Linux VPS in One Click with Our Rootkit & Malware Scanner

Running a VPS or dedicated server? One of the most overlooked but critical steps is making sure your system is free of rootkits and malware.

To simplify this task, we at Hosteons have released a free and open-source script that automatically installs, updates, and runs malware and rootkit scans using two of the most trusted tools in the Linux ecosystem:

  • ClamAV – an open-source antivirus engine
  • RKHunter – a rootkit scanner that checks for backdoors, local exploits, and suspicious files

🔧 What the Script Does

  • Detects your Linux distribution (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, AlmaLinux)
  • Installs ClamAV and RKHunter
  • Automatically updates malware and rootkit signature databases
  • Fixes common errors like WEB_CMD=”/bin/false” in RKHunter config
  • Runs full ClamAV scan
  • Executes a complete RKHunter rootkit check
  • Compatible with minimal or fresh VPS installations

📥 Download and Run

Run the following commands to download and execute:

curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hosteons/linux-malware-scanner/main/scan.sh
chmod +x scan.sh
sudo ./scan.sh

Or get the full packaged ZIP with README and LICENSE:

👉 Download from GitHub


📋 Output and Logs

  • ClamAV scan will output infected files (if any)
  • RKHunter will show warnings and potential issues
  • All actions run with user confirmation and are fully transparent

⚠️ Note

This script is non-destructive – it only scans and reports. It does not automatically delete or quarantine any files. Always review flagged files before taking any action.


🎯 Why Use This?

  • Ideal for hosting providers and system admins
  • Perfect for VPS users looking for a quick, effective scan
  • Good first step after initial OS setup

🙌 Contribute or Report Issues

You can fork, improve, or report bugs directly on GitHub:

🔗 https://github.com/hosteons/linux-malware-scanner

🔐 Easily Change Your Windows RDP Port with a One-Click Script

One-Click Windows RDP Port Changer Script 🖥️

Managing a Windows VPS often requires securing RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) access. One of the most effective and simplest ways to harden your Windows Server is to change the default RDP port (3389). But doing it manually via the registry and firewall can be tedious and risky.

That’s why we at Hosteons created an open-source, one-click PowerShell script that simplifies the process.

👉 GitHub RepoWindows RDP Port Changer Script


✅ Features

  • Changes RDP Port via Windows Registry
  • Updates Windows Firewall to allow the new port
  • Enables RDP if it’s currently disabled
  • Fully open-source and free under the MIT License
  • Supports Windows Server 2012/2016/2019/2022

📦 How to Use

  1. Login to your Windows VPS as Administrator.
  2. Open PowerShell.
  3. Run the script directly:
iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hosteons/Windows-RDP-Port-Changer-Script/main/rdp_port_changer.ps1 | iex
  1. Enter your desired RDP port when prompted.

⚠️ Important: Make sure your port is not blocked by external firewalls (such as cloud provider rules). Also, ensure you have console/VNC access in case the new port is misconfigured.


🤖 Automation Friendly

This script can be integrated into automation flows for server provisioning or batch management. Perfect for sysadmins managing multiple Windows VPS instances.


🔐 Why Change Your RDP Port?

  • Reduces brute-force attacks from bots scanning port 3389
  • Hides your RDP service from default port scanners
  • Adds an extra layer of obscurity in your defense

👨‍💻 Contribute or Report Issues

This is an open-source script. Feel free to fork, improve, or report issues on GitHub:

👉 https://github.com/hosteons/Windows-RDP-Port-Changer-Script


📣 About Hosteons

Hosteons is a VPS and dedicated server provider offering services in multiple global locations. We’re committed to open-source and providing useful automation tools for system administrators and developers.