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SSH uses private/public key pairs to protect your communication with the server.SSH passphrases protect your private key from being used by someone who doesn't know the passphrase.Without a passphrase, anyone who gains access to your computer has the potential to copy your private key. For example, family members, coworkers, system administrators, and hostile actors could gain access.
A secure passphrase helps keep your private key from being copied and used even if your computer is compromised.
The downside to passphrases is that you need to enter it every time you create a connection using SSH.You can temporarily cache your passphrase using ssh-agent so you don't have to enter it every time you connect.
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Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article regarding SSH, private/public key pairs, and passphrase security.
SSH (Secure Shell):
SSH is a cryptographic network protocol used for secure communication over an unsecured network.
It provides a secure channel for accessing and managing remote systems.
Private/Public Key Pairs:
SSH uses a pair of cryptographic keys: a private key and a public key.
The private key is kept secret and should only be known to the owner, while the public key can be shared.
Communication is secure because data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the corresponding private key.
SSH Passphrases:
Passphrases are an additional layer of security for private keys.
They are similar to passwords but are generally longer and more secure.
A passphrase protects the private key, preventing unauthorized use even if the key is compromised.
Security Risks Without a Passphrase:
Without a passphrase, a compromised computer could lead to unauthorized access to the private key.
Various entities like family members, coworkers, system administrators, or hostile actors could gain access.
Benefits of a Secure Passphrase:
A secure passphrase prevents the copying and misuse of the private key, even in the event of a compromised computer.
It adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.
Downside of Passphrases:
The main drawback of passphrases is the need to enter them every time an SSH connection is established.
This inconvenience is addressed by using temporary passphrase caching through tools like ssh-agent.
Temporary Passphrase Caching with ssh-agent:
Ssh-agent is a program that holds private keys used for public key authentication.
It allows users to enter their passphrase once and have it cached for a specified period, reducing the need to enter it for each SSH connection.
In summary, the article emphasizes the importance of SSH security through the use of private/public key pairs, the implementation of secure passphrases to protect private keys, and the convenience of temporarily caching passphrases using ssh-agent. These practices contribute to a robust and secure communication environment, essential in the context of Azure DevOps and related services.
SSH passphrases protect your private key from being used by someone who doesn't know the passphrase. Without a passphrase, anyone who gains access to your computer has the potential to copy your private key. For example, family members, coworkers, system administrators, and hostile actors could gain access.
The first time you use your key, you will be prompted to enter your passphrase. If you choose to save the passphrase with your keychain, you won't have to enter it again. Otherwise, you can store your passphrase in the keychain when you add your key to the ssh-agent.
The easiest way in this case is to run some operation on them using ssh-keygen . If it will ask for a passphrase, it has one (or it is not a ssh key), if not it does not have a passphrase: $ ssh-keygen -yf rsa_enc Enter passphrase: $ ssh-keygen -yf rsa ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1y...
If you have forgotten this passphrase, there is no way to reset it, and you will have to generate a new SSH key pair. and follow the instructions to generate your new SSH key pair.
We recommend that you use passphrases, as they are longer and easier to remember than a password made up of random, mixed characters. A passphrase is a memorized phrase consisting of a sequence of mixed words with or without spaces.
What is an example of passphrase? Think about a combination of words that would be memorable yet complex - like VirusOrMalwareMyDefenseIsRed but adding special characters and numbers like @, !, 4, etc. to this would make the passphrase more secure and harder to crack.
A: If you have forgotten your SSH password, you can reset it using the passwd command. Alternatively, if you have physical access to the server, you can perform a password reset. For systems with internally-managed passwords, you may need to contact the administrator for assistance in resetting your password.
To change your passphrase, you can simply run the ssh-keygen -p command. Specify the location of your current key, and input any old or new passphrases. There is no need to regenerate keys.
This public key is stored in the ~/.ssh/authorized_keys or ~/.ssh/authorized_keys2 file of the authenticating user. For example, if you log into a remote server with the user sadmin , the public key is added to the /home/sadmin/.
Adding or replacing a passphrase for an existing key
To change your passphrase, you can simply run the ssh-keygen -p command. Specify the location of your current key, and input any old or new passphrases. There is no need to regenerate keys. Enter new passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
1 Answer. The Login is the "username@ipaddress" of the remote computer.It prompts for password automatically when you connect. This username and password are system wide basically. For more specific details about enabling ssh in cPanel and connecting refer here.
Type in the password you used. You can click "Remember password in my keychain", this will remember the password for you, by putting it in your Mac keychain. Then, you won't have to type the password every time you ssh to that machine.
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