Remote Access with SSH for a Secure Connection to Your Raspberry Pi

Learn how to connect securely to your Raspberry Pi using SSH and protect your connection from unauthorized access. …


Updated September 28, 2023

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Learn how to connect securely to your Raspberry Pi using SSH and protect your connection from unauthorized access.

Are you ready to learn how to connect to your Raspberry Pi securely via SSH? With this tutorial, you’ll be able to remotely access your Raspberry Pi without worrying about security concerns. The SSH (Secure Shell) protocol is a method for secure remote login and communication between two machines. It allows users to connect to their Raspberry Pi from anywhere with an internet connection, as long as they have the correct credentials and configuration settings.

Before we get started, make sure you have already set up your Raspberry Pi with a functional operating system and are comfortable using the command line interface (CLI). If not, you can follow our guide on setting up a headless Raspberry Pi to get started.

Here’s how to connect securely to your Raspberry Pi using SSH:

  1. Enable SSH on Your Raspberry Pi
    First, you need to enable the SSH service on your Raspberry Pi. By default, SSH is disabled for security reasons. To enable it, follow these steps:
    • Open a terminal window on your Pi or connect via a keyboard and monitor.
    • Type sudo raspi-config and press Enter.
    • Navigate to the “Interfacing Options” menu using the arrow keys and select “SSH”.
    • Choose “Yes” to enable SSH.
    • Select “Finish” and then “Reboot” to apply the changes.
  2. Find Your Raspberry Pi’s IP Address
    You’ll need to know your Raspberry Pi’s local IP address to connect via SSH. To find it, open a terminal window on your Pi or connect via a keyboard and monitor and type:
    • hostname -I for the IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.1.10)
    • hostname -I | awk '{print $1}' if you only want the first IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.1.10)
  3. Generate an SSH Key Pair
    Next, you’ll need to generate an SSH key pair on your local machine. An SSH key pair consists of a public and private key that are used for authentication during the connection process. To generate a new SSH key pair, open a terminal window on your local computer and type:
    • ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com" (replace with your email address)
    • Press Enter to accept the default file location for the keys.
    • Enter a passphrase (optional but recommended for added security).
  4. Copy Your Public Key to the Raspberry Pi
    Now, you need to copy your public key to the Raspberry Pi’s authorized_keys file. This allows your local machine to authenticate with the Pi without entering a password. To do this, type:
    • ssh-copy-id pi@raspberrypi.local (or use the IP address if DNS is not working)
    • Enter the Raspberry Pi’s password when prompted.
  5. Connect to Your Raspberry Pi via SSH
    Finally, you can connect to your Raspberry Pi securely using SSH. Open a terminal window on your local machine and type:
    • ssh pi@raspberrypi.local (or use the IP address if DNS is not working)
    • You should now be connected to your Raspberry Pi without having to enter a password!
  6. Secure Your SSH Connection
    To further secure your connection, consider using a VPN or configuring port forwarding on your router. This will encrypt all data transmitted between your local machine and the Raspberry Pi, providing an additional layer of security.

That’s it! You can now connect to your Raspberry Pi securely via SSH and perform tasks remotely without worrying about unauthorized access. If you have any issues or questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below. Happy hacking!