5 Ways to Keep Your VPS Safe from Phishing & Malware

Running a VPS gives you full control and flexibility, but it also means you’re responsible for keeping it secure. One of the biggest threats in 2025 continues to be phishing and malware attacks. These threats can compromise your VPS, steal data, or even turn your server into a botnet.

At Hosteons, we provide the tools and freedom to secure your VPS, but it’s up to you to take the right precautions. Here are 5 proven ways to protect your VPS from phishing and malware attacks.


1. 🔑 Use Strong Authentication

Phishing often targets weak credentials.

  • Disable password logins for SSH and use SSH key authentication.
  • Set up 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for control panels and CMS logins.
  • Regularly update and rotate your passwords if they’re in use.

2. 🛡 Install Firewalls & Intrusion Prevention

A firewall blocks suspicious traffic before it reaches your VPS.

  • Use UFW (Ubuntu) or CSF (CentOS/AlmaLinux) to control access.
  • Install Fail2Ban to detect and block repeated login attempts.
  • Consider a Web Application Firewall (WAF) for website protection.

3. ⚡ Keep Software & Applications Updated

Outdated software is one of the most common malware entry points.

  • Regularly update your OS, web server, CMS, and plugins.
  • Remove unused or outdated packages.
  • Automate updates where possible for security patches.

4. 🧹 Scan & Monitor Your VPS Regularly

Detect malware before it causes damage.

  • Use tools like ClamAV or Maldet to scan files.
  • Monitor logs with Logwatch or real-time monitoring solutions.
  • Set up alerts for unusual activity such as high CPU usage or unexpected traffic spikes.

5. 📂 Backup & Recovery Plan

Even with strong defenses, no system is 100% safe.

  • Schedule automated backups of your VPS.
  • Store backups on remote servers or cloud storage.
  • Test your restore process so you can recover quickly if attacked.

🚀 How Hosteons Helps You Stay Secure

When you choose Hosteons VPS or VDS hosting, you get:

  • Full root access to implement custom security measures
  • High-speed 10Gbps ports for secure, fast transfers
  • Easy-to-use control panel with Virtualizor for backup management
  • Privacy-first hosting with No-KYC signups
  • Flexible payment options, including crypto and local gateways

✅ Conclusion

Phishing and malware attacks are not going away, but with the right precautions, you can keep your VPS safe. By combining strong authentication, firewalls, updates, monitoring, and backups, you’ll minimize risks and ensure your VPS stays reliable and secure.

At Hosteons, we give you the infrastructure and freedom to protect your VPS your way.

👉 Explore our VPS & VDS hosting plans: https://hosteons.com

How to Protect Your VPS from Hackers in 2025

Virtual Private Server (VPS) gives you power, control, and flexibility for hosting your websites, apps, or projects. But with great control comes great responsibility — and in 2025, cyberattacks are more sophisticated than ever. To keep your VPS safe, you need to apply strong security measures right after deployment and maintain them regularly.

At Hosteons, we encourage all VPS users to take security seriously. Here’s how to protect your VPS from hackers in 2025.


🔑 1. Use Strong Authentication

  • Change the default SSH port from 22 to something less predictable.
  • Disable password-based logins and switch to SSH key authentication.
  • Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts if passwords are unavoidable.

🔒 2. Keep Software Updated

Hackers often exploit outdated software. Run regular updates on your VPS:

apt update && apt upgrade -y   # Ubuntu/Debian  
yum update -y                  # CentOS/AlmaLinux  

Enable automatic security updates where possible.


🛡 3. Configure a Firewall

Set up firewalls like UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) or CSF to allow only necessary traffic and block everything else. Combine it with Fail2Ban to automatically block suspicious IPs.


🚨 4. Monitor and Audit Logs

Use tools like LogwatchGoAccess, or external monitoring systems to watch login attempts, unusual traffic, and system resource spikes. Early detection helps prevent breaches.


👤 5. Limit Root Access

  • Create a separate user with sudo privileges.
  • Disable direct root login via SSH.
  • Use role-based access if multiple people manage the server.

🔐 6. Secure Applications and Databases

  • Keep web apps, CMS platforms (like WordPress), and plugins up to date.
  • Restrict database access to localhost unless remote access is absolutely required.
  • Use strong credentials for MySQL/MariaDB and any control panels.

📦 7. Enable Regular Backups

Even with the best defenses, no system is 100% secure. Automated backups ensure you can recover quickly in case of a hack, data corruption, or accidental deletion.


🌐 8. Consider a WAF or DDoS Protection

Adding a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or enabling DDoS mitigation can stop malicious traffic before it reaches your VPS. Cloudflare and other providers offer affordable protection options.


🚀 Why Choose Hosteons for a Secure VPS?

At Hosteons, we provide VPS hosting with:

  • Full root access so you can configure security your way
  • 10Gbps network ports for reliable performance
  • No-KYC signups for privacy-conscious users
  • Global locations in the US and EU for low-latency access

👉 Explore our VPS & VDS plans here:


✅ Conclusion

Hackers are always looking for new ways to exploit vulnerable servers, but by following these security steps, you can significantly reduce risks. In 2025, protecting your VPS means combining basic hardening techniques, continuous monitoring, and proactive backups.

With the right precautions, your VPS will remain secure, reliable, and hacker-resistant.

Top Security Steps You Should Take After Buying a VPS

Virtual Private Server (VPS) gives you power, flexibility, and control over your hosting environment. But with that control comes responsibility — especially when it comes to security. Right after you deploy a VPS, there are essential steps you should take to protect it from hackers, malware, and unauthorized access.

At Hosteons, we want our customers to stay secure from day one. Here’s a checklist of the top security steps you should take after purchasing a VPS.


🔑 1. Change the Default SSH Port

Most VPS servers use port 22 for SSH access by default, which makes it an easy target for brute-force attacks. Change it to a non-standard port for better protection.


🔒 2. Set Up SSH Keys Instead of Passwords

Using passwords alone is risky. Instead, configure SSH key authentication. This ensures only devices with the correct private key can access your VPS.


🛡 3. Configure a Firewall

Install and configure a firewall like UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) or CSF (ConfigServer Security & Firewall) to block unauthorized traffic and allow only the services you need.


🚨 4. Install Fail2Ban

Fail2Ban helps prevent brute-force attacks by banning IPs that show malicious behavior, such as repeated failed login attempts.


📦 5. Keep Your System Updated

Always run system updates regularly:

apt update && apt upgrade -y   # Ubuntu/Debian  
yum update -y                  # CentOS/AlmaLinux  

This ensures you have the latest security patches.


👤 6. Create a Non-Root User

Running everything as root is risky. Create a regular user account with sudo privileges to reduce exposure if compromised.


🔐 7. Secure Critical Services

  • Disable unused services to reduce entry points.
  • Restrict database access to localhost unless remote access is absolutely necessary.
  • Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts.

📂 8. Enable Automatic Backups

Even with strong security, accidents can happen. Enable automated VPS backups through the Virtualizor panel or cron jobs to ensure you can recover quickly.


🚀 Bonus: Use Monitoring Tools

Set up monitoring tools like Logwatch or integrate with external monitoring services to get alerts about suspicious activity.


✅ Conclusion

Securing your VPS right after purchase is the most important step you can take to protect your data, applications, and users. By following this checklist, you’ll reduce risks and keep your server safe from the start.

At Hosteons, we provide VPS with 10Gbps ports, multiple global locations, and full root access, giving you the flexibility to apply all these security best practices easily.

👉 Explore our VPS plans today:

How to Automate Backups for Your VPS Hosting

When running a VPS, one of the most important tasks you can’t afford to ignore is backups. Hardware failures, software errors, or even accidental deletions can happen at any time. Without a reliable backup strategy, you risk losing valuable data and business continuity.

The good news is that you don’t have to manage backups manually. By automating them, you can ensure your VPS data is always safe and recoverable with minimal effort.


🔑 Why Automated Backups Are Essential

  • Peace of Mind – Your files and databases are saved automatically on a regular schedule.
  • Disaster Recovery – Quickly restore your VPS in case of crashes, hacks, or accidental deletions.
  • Save Time & Effort – No need to remember to back up your data manually.
  • Business Continuity – Ensures your website or app keeps running smoothly, even after a mishap.

🛠 Methods to Automate Backups

1. Control Panel Backup Tools

If you’re using a hosting control panel like DirectAdmin or cPanel, you can configure scheduled backups of files, databases, and emails. These can be stored locally or sent to remote storage (FTP, S3, Google Drive, etc.).

2. Built-In Hosting Backup Options

At Hosteons, VPS plans come with the ability to take backups via Virtualizor. You can backups directly from the panel for added safety.

3. Cron Jobs + Rsync

For Linux VPS users, set up a cron job with rsync to copy files to another server or external storage automatically. Example:

0 2 * * * rsync -a /var/www/ user@backupserver:/backups/

This will back up your website every night at 2 AM.

4. Database Backups via Cron

Databases like MySQL/MariaDB can be backed up automatically:

0 3 * * * mysqldump -u root -pYourPassword dbname > /backups/db-$(date +\%F).sql

5. Cloud Storage Integration

Automate backups to cloud services like Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, or Dropbox. Tools like rclone make it simple to sync VPS data to the cloud.


📌 Best Practices for VPS Backups

  • Follow the 3-2-1 Rule: Keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 stored offsite.
  • Encrypt Sensitive Backups: Ensure sensitive files are encrypted before storing them offsite.
  • Test Restores Regularly: A backup is useless if you can’t restore it—test periodically.
  • Rotate Backups: Don’t just keep the latest copy; use rotation strategies (daily, weekly, monthly).

🚀 Automated Backups with Hosteons VPS

Hosteons makes it easy to protect your data:

  • Built-in backup options via Virtualizor control panel
  • Support for external and local backup storage
  • Affordable VPS and VDS hosting with 10Gbps ports and full root access

👉 Check out our hosting plans:


✅ Conclusion

Automating backups for your VPS is one of the smartest investments you can make in your hosting setup. It ensures your data is safe, your business stays online, and your peace of mind remains intact. With Hosteons’ built-in tools and flexible hosting plans, protecting your VPS has never been easier.

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.