Disable password, SSH works (Ubuntu)

December 5, 2013 11.8k views
f1dc16eda41571f12bf5d14705a5aef0
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f1dc16eda41571f12bf5d14705a5aef0
Hi, I have created a new user (non-root) with SSH key. I can login using SSH key though Pageant. But when i remove my key from Pageant, I am also able to login through my password. I have done the following in /etc/ssh/sshd_config: PasswordAuthentication no UsePAM no Sudo reload ssh What other settings am i missing out to prevent successful password logins?! Thank you!
1 comment
  • thomas07vt December 15, 2015

    I was having the same issue. I did 2 things that which solved my problem (not sure which one did the trick)

    • Restarted my droplet:

    sudo reboot

    • On my client machine, removed my "known_hosts" entry for my server:

    ssh-keygen -f /home/<user>/.ssh/known_hosts -R ip.ip.ip.ip

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4 Answers
kamaln7 MOD December 5, 2013
I recommend reverting UsePAM to its original value and restarting ssh: 
sudo service ssh restart


Then try logging in with your password.
Reply
gdecris April 25, 2015 
ChallengeResponseAuthentication no
PasswordAuthentication no

sudo service ssh restart
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f1dc16eda41571f12bf5d14705a5aef0 December 5, 2013
Hi Kamal, Sorry seems like I wasn't clear earlier. I am able to login using my password & SSH key. but for higher security, i would like to disable my password and only use SSH key to connect. I've set 'PasswordAuthentication no' and 'UsePAM no' but with these settings, i can still login with my password. Any idea why? thanks :))
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flyingfoxlee March 27, 2014
set ChallengeResponseAuthentication no in /etc/ssh/sshd_config
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