in regards to this topic i thought i should share this with everyone
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=277440.0 7800 XPM stolen from VPS
for future use of vpn i urge everyone to do this
apt-get update && apt-get --yes upgrade
useradd -m -G sudo,adm -s /bin/bash yournewusername
passwd root
start a text file one your home pc and start beating up your keyboard , use the shift key and numbers to get special chars. about 20-50 chars long should do.
it should like like
!W45ygbw4%BN56j8u46m7mki578,o0,5mrn6Uw4b5vy1q34tv13%By2n456@$5y2v#$%t1cf34Tg2v345t24%BY@$YH#%6unh5&U#bv45c@#$!#!#RE$T!#$VQ#$
save your text file!!!! and don't lose it.
make two of these passwords, so you can add a secure password to your new user u added.
next you should also disable root access
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
change the permit root login option to no , save the file.
log out as root, and log back in using your new username and password in your text file. Obviously you will just copy / paste the password, right click on your ssh console to paste it in.
This should prevent anyone from getting into your vps.