How to secure Ubuntu Apache web server?

@samara 

Securing an Apache web server on Ubuntu involves several steps to ensure that the server is protected against common attacks and vulnerabilities. Here are some steps you can take to secure your Ubuntu Apache web server:

1. Keep your Ubuntu system up to date with the latest security patches and updates. You can do this by running the following commands in the terminal:

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sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

1. Configure your firewall to allow only necessary traffic to your web server. You can use the ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall) utility to do this. For example, to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic, run the following commands:

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sudo ufw allow http
sudo ufw allow https

1. Disable unnecessary Apache modules that can potentially be used to exploit your server. You can do this by running the following command:

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sudo a2dismod <module-name>

Replace <module-name> with the name of the module you want to disable.

1. Enable HTTPS by installing an SSL certificate on your server. You can obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority or use a free certificate from Let's Encrypt. To install the certificate, follow the instructions provided by your certificate provider.
2. Protect sensitive files and directories by setting appropriate file permissions. Make sure that the files and directories that contain sensitive information are only accessible to the appropriate users and groups. You can use the chmod command to set file permissions.
3. Disable directory listing to prevent unauthorized access to your server's directories. You can do this by adding the following line to your Apache configuration file:

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Options -Indexes

1. Use strong passwords for all user accounts on your server, including the root account. You can also disable password-based authentication and use SSH keys for authentication instead.

These are some of the steps you can take to secure your Ubuntu Apache web server. Keep in mind that security is an ongoing process, and you should regularly monitor your server for any suspicious activity and take appropriate action to prevent potential attacks.