Re: targetted SSH bruteforce attacks

[Paul Schmehl <pschmehl_lists () tx rr com>]

--On Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:04:52 -0700 Xin LI <delphij () gmail com> wrote:

> On FreeBSD you can probably just use the following pf.conf line to
> block most of such attacks:
>
> block in quick proto tcp from any os "Linux" to any port ssh
>
> (Note that with this you may lose the ability to login from any Linux
> based box including from an Android phone, etc)
>
> Of course it's wise to disable password authentication and just use
> public key authentication.

Why?  Ssh is encrypted, so you're not exposing a password when you login.  How 
does public key authentication make you more secure (in a practical sense)?

-- 
Paul Schmehl, Senior Infosec Analyst
As if it wasn't already obvious, my opinions
are my own and not those of my employer.
*******************************************
"It is as useless to argue with those who have
renounced the use of reason as to administer
medication to the dead." Thomas Jefferson

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