security
10 articles in this category.
Changing the SSH Port and Disabling Root Login
Step-by-step guide to moving SSH off port 22 and disabling root login on Rocky Linux 9 — without locking yourself out. The exact sequence matters, and this article covers why.
Read →Completing the WordPress Installation — From Browser Setup to First Secure Configuration
The browser installation wizard, first wp-admin steps, securing wp-admin access by IP in Nginx, and the setup sequence that gets a WordPress site production-ready quickly.
Read →Disable Password Login — SSH Key Authentication Only
The final security step for SSH: disabling password authentication entirely so only key holders can connect. How to do it safely, why it matters, and what to do the one or two times you lock yourself out anyway.
Read →Keeping the Server Updated Safely
How to update Rocky Linux system packages, Nginx, PHP, and MariaDB without taking down a live WordPress site — and what to do when an update breaks something.
Read →Fail2ban — Automatically Block Brute Force Attempts
How to install and configure Fail2ban on Rocky Linux 9 to automatically ban IPs that repeatedly fail SSH authentication. Including how to unban yourself when it blocks you by mistake.
Read →Setting Up firewalld — Only Open What You Need
How to configure firewalld on Rocky Linux 9 for a WordPress VPS. Which ports to open, which to keep closed, and how to debug when something stops working because of the firewall.
Read →Why Server Security Must Come Before Everything Else
What actually happens to an unsecured VPS within minutes of going online. Real log data, real attack patterns, and why the security steps in this part aren't optional.
Read →How to Create an SSH Key — The Security Step You Can't Skip
Step-by-step guide to generating an SSH key pair, copying it to your Vultr VPS, and understanding why your key only works on the machine that created it. For Mac, Linux, and Windows.
Read →First Things to Do After Connecting — Initial Server Setup
The 10-minute checklist after your first SSH connection. Update the system, create a non-root user, set a hostname. These steps prepare your server for everything in Part 3 — and skipping them makes later work harder.
Read →What Is SSH — And Why You Need to Understand It Before Connecting
SSH explained without jargon. What it is, how it works, why servers use it, and how to set up your SSH client before Part 2.5. Includes the tools worth using and the ones worth skipping.
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