Large File Transfer - Why bother with FTP?
Large File Transfer - Why bother with FTP?
FTP stands for "File Transfer Protocol", and it isa method used to copy files from one host to another over networks like the internet.
The File Transfer Protocol was originally written by Abhay Bhushan in 1971, with the standard specifications having been updated twice since then (in 1980 and 1985). This bears repeating: FTP, one of the main methods used to send files (online or over a smaller network), was originally created almost 40 years ago. Many have wondered if this fact alone is enough to render it obsolete.
Additionally, any (honest) IT professional will tell you that FTP was never designed as a secure method of sending data, and even with security upgrades, it is still vulnerable to a wide variety of attacks (according to the good folks atWikipedia), including:
Bounce attacks
Spoofing
Brute force attacks
Packet capture ("Sniffing")
And more
As if this were not enough, data (including user names, passwords, large files, etc.) that is sent by FTP can often be easily accessed and read (although this has been somewhat mitigated in modern variations).It also tends to leave mile-wide holes in users' firewalls, thus opening their computer to potential attacks.
As one would expect for such an old system, usability is not very good - even newer versions are often clunky and distinctly not user friendly. Even if they have "Graphical User Interfaces" (ie: a windows-like, image-based control panel), they are still usually difficult to figure out how to use, and often require extensive user training. If you've ever had to use FTP, chances are you've experienced this firsthand.
You might ask if there is a better option, and thankfully there is. It's been 40 years since the advent of FTP, and a lot has changed since then, including the coding languages available to programmers and, in fact, the very structure of the internet.
This is a very good thing, because it's given us a variety of choices, including sending large email files. But the best of these options are probably web-based file transfer services. Let us look at what the best of these services offer:
The ability to send large files 2GB or larger
Password protection on uploads and/or downloads
SSL cryptographic protection on sent files
128-bit (or better) encryption used for uploading and downloading files
Ease of use - super-simple user interface
No need to download software
Able to send and receive multiple files simultaneously
Work with any operating system (OS)
With modern, more secure options like this, why would anyone want to use something as outdated as FTP?
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