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SSH Keys

For optimal security, it is recommended that you use SSH Keys for logging into SSH, rather than passwords.  Using SSH Keys makes it harder for a potential intruder to try to access your account or snoop or interfere with your connection.

You can setup SSH Keys via the Terminal program built into Linux or Mac OS X.  For Windows, you will need to use a third-party program such as PuTTY, which can be downloaded for free.

Once you setup SSH Keys, you can disable password authentication so that the server only accepts sessions from people with an authorized key.

More details on how to setup SSH Keys can be found in the following articles:

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Article Comments

This is a great tutorial. Can you add how to disable password authentication once the above has been completed?
Posted: November 26, 2010
HostGator
Sure, we are working on it now.
Posted: December 17, 2010
kilowatt
Actually, I just tried this on my non-vps-dedicated account, and it will work fine if you don't mind not disabling passwords and replace 'root' with your Username.

Note that remote login as root, via ssh or otherwise, should only be used as a last resort, and probably disabled for more seasoned sys admins.
Posted: November 14, 2011
HostGator
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Posted: December 13, 2011 (Global Reply)
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