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A place to share alternatives to popular online services that can be self-hosted without giving up privacy or locking you into a service you don't control.

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How do you handle SSL certs and internet access in your setup? (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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tldr: I'd like to set up a reverse proxy with a domain and an SSL cert so my partner and I can access a few selfhosted services on the internet but I'm not sure what the best/safest way to do it is. Asking my partner to use tailsclae or wireguard is asking too much unfortunately. I was curious to know what you all recommend.

I have some services running on my LAN that I currently access via tailscale. Some of these services would see some benefit from being accessible on the internet (ex. Immich sharing via a link, switching over from Plex to Jellyfin without requiring my family to learn how to use a VPN, homeassistant voice stuff, etc.) but I'm kind of unsure what the best approach is. Hosting services on the internet has risk and I'd like to reduce that risk as much as possible.

I know a reverse proxy would be beneficial here so I can put all the services on one box and access them via subdomains but where should I host that proxy? On my LAN using a dynamic DNS service? In the cloud? If in the cloud, should I avoid a plan where you share cpu resources with other users and get a dedicated box?
Should I purchase a memorable domain or a domain with a random string of characters so no one could reasonably guess it? Does it matter?
What's the best way to geo-restrict access? Fail2ban? Realistically, the only people that I might give access to live within a couple hundred miles of me.
Any other tips or info you care to share would be greatly appreciated.
Feel free to talk me out of it as well.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

or a domain with a random string of characters so no one could reasonably guess it? Does it matter?

That does not work. As soon as you get SSL certificates, expect the domain name to be public knowledge, especially with Let's Encrypt and all other certificate authorities with transparency logs. As a general rule, don't rely on something to be hidden from others as a security measure.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago

It is possible to get wildcard certificates from LetsEnrcypt which doesn't give anyone information on which subdomains are valid as your reverse proxy would handle that. Still arguably security through obscurity, but it does make it substantially harder for anyone who can't intercept traffic between the client and server.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Damn, I didn't realize they had public logs like that. Thanks for the heads up

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

https://crt.sh/ would make anyone who thought obscurity would be a solution poop themselves.