Server hardening in 2026: the minimum viable security for a production Linux box

invalid@example.com (Aior), Aior
Fri, 01 May 2026 00:42:14 +0000
Server Security

Most "hardening" docs are 90 % noise​
You can find a 200-line "Linux hardening checklist" with one search. Most of it is dated, low-value, or actively wrong (disabling IPv6, sysctl tweaks for "security" that haven't mattered since 2010). The list below is what actually matters in 2026.

Authentication[/HEADING>

No password SSH login. Public key only. Set PasswordAuthentication no in...