Let’s share more on how to harden PHP on your VPS. PHP is a server-side scripting language used to create dynamic web pages.

It is easy to learn and use, and a large community of developers supports it. It is used by popular websites such as Facebook, Wikipedia, and Yahoo!

PHP hardening is the process of making PHP applications more secure by fixing vulnerabilities and implementing security best practices. 

It can be done by changing the default settings of PHP, disabling dangerous functions, and restricting access to sensitive files and directories.

Why you should harden your PHP applications:

• PHP is a popular target for attackers, as it is one of the world’s most widely used programming languages. 
• Second, PHP applications are often complex and can be difficult to secure. 
• Even a small vulnerability in a PHP application can be exploited to gain access to the underlying server.

There are many things you can do to harden your PHP applications. Some of the most important steps include:

• Using the latest version of PHP.
• Turning off dangerous functions.
• Restricting access to sensitive files and directories.
• Enabling input validation.
• Using a web application firewall (WAF).
• Keeping your applications up to date with the latest security patches.

By following these steps, you can help to protect your PHP applications from attack and keep your data safe.

Let’s harden PHP on your VPS

To harden PHP on your VPS, you can follow these steps:

1. Update your PHP version to the latest one.

On your CyberPanel, proceed to the PHP tab under the home. Click on it and go to manage PHP installations.

Proceed to edit PHP configurations. Select the latest PHP version.

2. Disable all unnecessary extensions

It includes the ‘allow_url_fopen’ option that allows remote access. Deactivate this to help harden your PHP. 

Only use it for secure sites and do implement more secure options.

3. Set a strong password for your phpMyAdmin account.

Keep changing your passwords often, and don’t use default ones. Practice the best password management plans and safeguard your PHP.

4. Use a firewall to restrict access to your VPS.

 It adds rules and restricts access to your VPS without proper authentication. Keeps your PHP safe from exploitation.

5. Use a web application firewall (WAF) to protect your website from common attacks.

Protects from various attacks, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site forgery requests (CSRF).

6. Keep your software up to date. 

Updates patch vulnerabilities and ensures the PHP is safe from malicious attackers. They also add extra features to ensure your VPS works smoothly.

7. Monitor your VPS for suspicious activity and make a backup plan in place.

Check the logs and know what’s happening on your VPS. From the logs, take the necessary precautions and secure your VPS.

These are just some of the steps you can take to harden PHP on your VPS. For more information, please consult your VPS provider or a security expert.

Here are some additional benefits of PHP hardening:

1. Improved performance: By reducing the number of vulnerabilities in your PHP applications, you can improve their performance. The PHP interpreter will not have time to check for and mitigate potential attacks.
2. Reduced maintenance overhead: By hardening your PHP applications, you can reduce the time and effort you need to spend on maintenance. You will be less likely to experience security breaches, which can require significant time and resources to fix.
3. Increased peace of mind: By hardening your PHP applications, you can know your data is more secure. It can be especially important for businesses that rely on their PHP applications to store sensitive data.

Summing up;

Harden PHP on your VPS using the above steps. Protect your application from attack and keep your data safe.

If you are responsible for the security of a PHP application, you should harden it. Get a smooth and secure environment for your VPS.