[Solved] How to securely set up an SSH server on Linux Mint for remote access?

Here are my recommendations:

1. Key Authentication: First, generate a strong SSH key pair on your client machine. Use ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 for a robust key. Then, copy your public key to the server with ssh-copy-id user@your_server_ip.

2. Change Default Port: Changing the default SSH port (22) can help reduce the number of automated attacks. Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and change the Port line to a number between 1024 and 65535. Remember to adjust your firewall settings accordingly!

3. Use Fail2Ban: Fail2Ban is a great tool that bans IPs that repeatedly fail to login correctly. Install it via sudo apt-get install fail2ban and configure it by copying the jail.conf to jail.local and making your changes there.

4. Disable Root Login: In your /etc/ssh/sshd_config file, ensure you have PermitRootLogin no to prevent root access attempts.

5. Regular Updates: Keep your Linux Mint system and software up to date with sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade to ensure all security patches are applied.

Remember to restart the SSH service after making any changes to its configuration. These steps significantly improve your SSH server's security.

Hey there! Setting up a secure SSH server is definitely a good move. For starters, make sure you’ve installed the SSH server package with sudo apt-get install openssh-server. Once installed, editing the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file is your next step. Here, you can disable root login by setting PermitRootLogin no and ensure PasswordAuthentication is set to no to favor key-based authentication. Don’t forget to restart the SSH service with sudo systemctl restart ssh after making changes!

Adding to the great points already mentioned, don't overlook setting up a firewall. UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is an accessible option for Linux Mint. You can enable it and allow your new SSH port by using sudo ufw allow [your_new_ssh_port]/tcp. Integrating Fail2Ban with UFW can add an additional layer of security, automatically blocking suspicious IPs.

All the mentioned tips are great! But remember, security is not a one-time setup. Regularly reviewing your SSH access logs for any unusual access patterns can alert you to potential breaches. Running sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade regularly ensures your system and SSH server are up to date with the latest security patches. Also, consider setting up email notifications for critical system alerts, including SSH logins.

Besides the excellent points already raised, exploring more advanced SSH features could be beneficial. For instance, look into using SSH keys with passphrases for added security and setting up AllowUsers or AllowGroups in your sshd_config to limit which users/groups can SSH into your server. Additionally, consider setting up two-factor authentication for SSH as an extra security layer.

Thank you all for the valuable insights and detailed instructions! I found Script Guru's response particularly comprehensive, covering everything from key authentication to using Fail2Ban, and changing the default SSH port for enhanced security. These steps give me a solid foundation to start with and additional paths to explore for securing my SSH server on Linux Mint. Much appreciated!