Remote Access Security Risks on Public-Facing VPS IP Spoofing & Firewall Best Practices

[johny899]

Have you ever considered your VPS to be safe simply because you set a password on it? Yes, regarding that. If your server is visible to the world via the internet then I am sure you are going to close your business in the coming time. I'll illustrate one terrible attack—IP spoofing—and teach you firewall recommended practices that will help you sleep easier at night.

What the Heck is IP Spoofing, and Why Should You Care?​

Consider this: someone showing up at your party with your friend's name tag on, impersonating him. That is IP spoofing in a nutshell. A hacker spoofs an IP address so your server will think it's a friendly connection.

Here's the scary part: if your firewall allows that IP, the attacker is in. It can check your computer's open ports, disable your firewall services, and steal data.

The "Open Door" Issue with Public-Confronting VPS​

You rent a VPS, set up smart scripts, and enable SSH for remote access. And forget that it is available for the entire internet to scan. Yes, I have. But here's an additional twist:

• Open services are a hacker paradise.
• Bots mechanically scan for default ports like 22 (SSH) or 3389 (RDP).
• They don't have to be smart—they just need you to slack.

So let's get that straight.

Firewall Best Practices for Protecting You​

This is where your firewall becomes your ride-or-die best friend. Not a casual pal; I mean ride-or-die.

1. Only Allow IPs You Trust​

• Apply IP whitelisting on admin interfaces or SSH.
• Better yet, use a VPN and disable all public admin access.

2. Block Unused Ports​

• Disable everything that you are not actively using.
• Take advantage of tools such as nmap and scan your server yourself and check what is open.

3. Rate Limit Everything​

• Don't make brute-force attackers attempt an infinite number of possibilities.
• IP addresses block using fail2ban or similar after several unsuccessful logins.

4. Enable Logging and Monitoring​

• Refer to logs when in doubt.
• Have warnings when there are attempts at unauthorized access.

Quick Wins That Have a Bit Impact​

• Change default ports (yes, even SSH!)
• Use secure SSH keys, not passwords
• Don't run services as root, unless you actually like risk

Let's be realistic—public VPS servers are wonderful for access and convenience, but they're also wide open to attack if you don't shut them down. Don't offer someone an easy route to walk into your system with an attitude problem and a spoofed IP.

You know what, security is not difficult to achieve, but it is necessary to be consistent. So you guys should look at your firewall, close the unnecessary doors, and cease to presume that nobody's looking.