File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a network protocol used to transfer files from one computer to another over a public network, such as the Internet. FTP operates on a client-server model and requires two communication channels between the client and the server: a command channel for controlling the conversation and a data channel for transmitting file content.

While FTP is one of the earliest methods developed for moving files across networks and is widely used due to its simplicity, it is often criticized for its lack of security. In its basic form, FTP does not encrypt its data, which means that both credentials (usernames and passwords) and the contents of the files being transferred are sent in clear text. This makes FTP particularly vulnerable to interception and eavesdropping attacks.

To address these security issues, variants of FTP have been developed:

Despite the availability of more secure alternatives, the original insecure version of FTP is still widely used, often in internal or trusted networks where encryption is not deemed necessary. However, for transferring sensitive data across unsecured networks, using FTPS or S-FTP is highly recommended to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data.