A good document to read before you start is the sample '/etc/hosts.allow' file. Before you start changing that file make sure you have a way to get into the system when you lock yourself out (e.g. ordinary keyboard/monitor access). The '/etc/hosts.deny' file is depreciated bij FreeBSD and it is better (IMHO) to have all these rules in one file: '/etc/hosts.allow'. Because of the size of the default '/etc/hosts.allow' file I always completely empty it. Then put in the line "ALL : ALL : DENY" . This wil block out everything. Now start allowing services, make sure the above line is the last one in the file, here are some examples: sshd : ALL : ALLOW allow ssh from everywhere sshd : 192.168.1. 127.0.0.1 : ALLOW allow ssh from localhost and the subnet 192.168.1 sshd : evil.crackers.org : DENY deny ssh from evil.crackers.org So an example file would be something like this: sshd : ALL : ALLOW ftpd : 192.168.1. : ALLOW ALL : ALL : DENY There are alot more options to use, read the manpages to find out. MY HOSTS.ALLOW sshd: 68.48. 68.49. 207.86.20.34 : ALLOW sshd: ALL : DENY