some tips to improve ssh server

get from http://askubuntu.com/questions/2271/how-to-harden-an-ssh-server

Here's one easy thing to do: install ufw (the "uncomplicated firewall") and use it to rate limit incoming connections.

From a command prompt, type:

$ sudo ufw limit OpenSSH 

If ufw is not installed, do this and try again:

$ sudo aptitude install ufw 

Many attackers will try to use your SSH server to brute-force passwords. This will only allow 6 connections every 30 seconds from the same IP address.