Most people do not pay much attention to server logs because they appear too information-rich, that many do not know how to make sense of anything! But your logs know everything happening on your server: every request, every error, every login--even hacker activity!
For example, I had a very slow VPS one time, and I could not figure out why. When I looked through my logs, I noticed hundreds of failed login attempts coming from random IP addresses--someone was attempting to break into my server! I learned then, that server logs are the absolute best early warning indicator to investigate security issues.
They try different pages to see if there is a missing page, login attempts to see if your login page has a generic administration password or try strange links that you may or may not have. After a while, you will be able to notice the normal patterns of the bad actors and be able to proactively fix any gaps or weaknesses before the hacker exploits them.
So, the next time your site doesn’t behave normally, check your logs first. Oftentimes, the answer is right in the presence of your logs.
For example, I had a very slow VPS one time, and I could not figure out why. When I looked through my logs, I noticed hundreds of failed login attempts coming from random IP addresses--someone was attempting to break into my server! I learned then, that server logs are the absolute best early warning indicator to investigate security issues.
How Logs Help You Spot Suspicious Activity
Wonder: "When is that file being accessed so many times?" or "Why was someone downloading a large file at midnight?" Find files that are:- Changing without your permission
- Having huge amounts of data sent out of your server
- Having odd error messages, (such as a 500 error message)
Reading Logs is Similar to Reading a Detective Novel
Imagine your logs is a narrative account of everything going on in your server. Every line is information about the story, who crossed the boundaries, what they did, when they did it. Hackers will leave a digital “footprint” behind while they try to take your site offline.They try different pages to see if there is a missing page, login attempts to see if your login page has a generic administration password or try strange links that you may or may not have. After a while, you will be able to notice the normal patterns of the bad actors and be able to proactively fix any gaps or weaknesses before the hacker exploits them.
Conclusion
While server logs may seem boring, they are your best friend and can save your site from serious trouble. They will tell you who is visiting your site, what they are doing, and potentially identify weaknesses that need to be improved.So, the next time your site doesn’t behave normally, check your logs first. Oftentimes, the answer is right in the presence of your logs.
