I've been using Linux for quite a while now and I always feel the need to have a passive software / script setup which can alert me of any suspicious network activities like scans, failed login attempts, etc. on the fly via email or by visual/audio notifications.
I know how to look up through logs and stuff but for the most part it is a manual, time consuming process. I'm looking for something that is semi/fully automated with some good log parsing capabilities.
I'm aware of IDS systems for monitoring networks like Snort, etc. but they are an overkill for the average home user and a painful process to get up and running.
What is a good option for me as a home user?