DropVPS Team
Writer: John hens
How to Install Fail2Ban on MacOS
Table of Contents
Fail2Ban is a powerful security tool that protects your system from brute-force attacks by monitoring log files and blocking suspicious IP addresses. While Fail2Ban is mostly used on Linux servers, you can also install and use it on macOS using Homebrew.
Step 1: Update Homebrew
Keeping Homebrew up to date ensures you get the latest package definitions and avoids installation errors when adding Fail2Ban on macOS.
brew update
Step 2: Install Fail2Ban on macOS
Fail2Ban is available in the Homebrew repository, so installing it on macOS is quick and straightforward.
brew install fail2ban
Step 3: Create the Fail2Ban Configuration Directory
Creating a dedicated configuration directory helps keep Fail2Ban organized and ensures custom settings can be applied properly on macOS.
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/fail2ban
Step 4: Copy Default Configuration Files
Copying the default Fail2Ban configuration files provides a solid base to customize and secure your system on macOS effectively.
sudo cp /usr/local/etc/fail2ban/jail.conf /usr/local/etc/fail2ban/jail.local
Step 5: Create a Local Jail Configuration
Fail2Ban uses a jail.local file to define protection rules. Creating this file ensures your settings stay safe during updates.
sudo nano /opt/homebrew/etc/fail2ban/jail.local
Add a simple basic configuration:
[DEFAULT]
bantime = 600
findtime = 600
maxretry = 5
[ssh]
enabled = true
port = ssh
filter = sshd
logpath = /var/log/system.log
Step 6: Start Fail2Ban Service
Starting the Fail2Ban service activates your configured rules, helping protect your macOS system from unauthorized login attempts.
brew services start fail2ban
Step 7: Check Fail2Ban Status
Verifying the status of Fail2Ban ensures that the service is running correctly and actively monitoring for potential security threats on your macOS system.
brew services list
Step 8: View Fail2Ban Logs
Checking Fail2Ban logs helps you monitor blocked attempts and review security events to ensure your macOS system remains protected.
tail -f /usr/local/var/log/fail2ban.log
