Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: How do I keep track of failed SSH log-in attempts?

Monitor SSH log-in attempts to detect brute-force attacks on Ubuntu 12.04 server.

Quick Answer: Use the 'last' command to view recent login attempts and 'fail2ban' to block IP addresses after a specified number of failed attempts.

To keep track of failed SSH log-in attempts, you can use the 'Last Login' and 'Failed login attempts' options in the Ubuntu settings.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • Insufficient security measures, incorrect password policies, or weak passwords can lead to brute-force attacks.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Method 1: Enable SSH Logins and Limit Failed Attempts

  1. Step 1: Open the Ubuntu terminal as root user by running `sudo -i` or using your preferred method.

Method 2: Configure SSH to Log Failed Attempts

  1. Step 1: Edit the `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` file using your preferred method.

🎯 Final Words

By implementing these methods, you can effectively track and prevent brute-force SSH log-in attempts on your Ubuntu 12.04 server.

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