Especially if this is from a computer that has access/information beyond just the public service.
Comment on Risks of self-hosting a public-facing forum?
MTK@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Don’t do it.
Hosting a public service with no real knowledge of security can only end badly.
Get a vpc, do it there, learn from mistakes.
It’s more than just HTTPS, you also need proper authentication, regular updates, emergency updates for critical vulnerabilities, ideally some sort of monitoring to detect potential misuse of the service or any escalations from the service to the OS.
Ask yourself this: If this was your first time driving a car, would you rather do it in an empty parking lot where at worst you will damage the car. Or would you rather do it in a busy street where at worst you can kill someone?
MTK@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
CapitalNumbers@lemm.ee 2 weeks ago
Have you ever tried Cloudflare Tunnels? I think this would solve most of those issues
MTK@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I have not, I tend to avoid services and diy it
ocean@lemmy.selfhostcat.com 2 weeks ago
And what could actually happen? You learn through doing!
MTK@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
If for example the server is actually a computer in the LAN and maybe it’s also his media server and his backup server then potentially any compromise could lead to his personal information leaked and or other computers in the LAN compromised.
So what could actually happen? His personal photos and passwords and accounts can be leaked or taken over. He could be spied on by accessing his webcam. A lot of things could go wrong.
You are right. Learning by doing is awesome. Just be sure to do it in a safe way. Get a VPC. Do it there. No personal information, no access to other services. Just this service, just for this purpose. Worst case scenario, if it’s taken over, the only thing that’s harmed is the forum itself. Which is not the end of the world, I’m guessing.