How to Host DeepSeek R1 on a $5 Linux VPS Without Being Hacked

Author: Vaibhav Kumar | Cloud Security Specialist

Introduction

Self-hosting AI models is the privacy meta of 2026. DeepSeek R1 offers advanced AI search capabilities, but deploying it on a low-cost VPS without proper hardening is risky. Hackers now use AI to attempt brute-force logins, so securing your Linux VPS is essential.

Linux VPS Hardening Steps

1. Update and Upgrade

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Configure UFW (Firewall)

sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw allow 5000/tcp  # Replace with DeepSeek R1 port
sudo ufw enable

3. Install Fail2Ban

sudo apt install fail2ban -y
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban
sudo systemctl start fail2ban

4. Fail2Ban Jail for SSH & API

Create a configuration file (e.g., /etc/fail2ban/jail.local) with the following:

[sshd]
enabled = true
port = ssh
filter = sshd
logpath = /var/log/auth.log
maxretry = 3
bantime = 3600

[deepseek-api]
enabled = true
port = 5000
filter = deepseek-api
logpath = /var/log/deepseek.log
maxretry = 5
bantime = 3600

NOTE

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