Two FTP Security Hazards to Consider
If your company regularly transfers sensitive data or information via an FTP Site, you should insist on an SFTP connection. SFTP connections are encrypted, so they are considered a much more secure means of transferring data than regular FTP connections.
When you log on to an FTP server that does not use an SFTP connection, your password and user name are transferred over the Internet in clear text. This is one of the biggest risks associated with FTP transfers, but it is not the only one.
Another potential security breach occurs because data moved via FTP is not transferred over an encrypted connection. Imagine you upload large files containing very sensitive accounting and banking information to your FTP server. There is always the possibility that your sensitive data could wind up being transferred to an unintended recipient. Your unencrypted data could be seen, altered, downloaded – whatever the recipient wishes to do with it, they can.
These are two very big potential risks associated with FTP that many businesses and individuals fail to consider. You can avoid compromising your most important and sensitive data by insisting on SFTP connections whenever you download or upload big files.
Many but not all FTP servers today do rely on SFTP. Since the benefits of SFTP are becoming more and more widely known, most FTP servers utilizing Secure File Transfer Protocol make it widely known this is their practice.
Spread the word via StumbleUpon
Drive Traffic, Create Buzz, Manage Your Reputation Online with Blog Advertising