If anyone is interested in a /etc/hosts.deny automatic update script (Unix only) based on sshd/vsftpd attacks, here's a python script: http://www.aczoom.com/tools/blockhosts/
This is a beta release, and my first attempt at Python coding. Any comments, suggestions, pointers on using more common Python idioms or example coding snippets, etc, welcome! Thanks! -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list