bk99.de entertain the web since 1997

bk99.de
Hackaday · File transferCurated

Making FTP more bearable with modern command-line tools

Summary

Hackaday compares classic FTP clients with NcFTP for old servers, retro computers and unencrypted file transfers that are still necessary. FTP normally transmits credentials unencrypted. NcFTP has existed for many years.

Ideas

  • NcFTP adds convenient resuming and directory operations.
  • Classic FTP clients have gained features over decades.
  • Old public archives still use the protocol.

Insights

  • Outdated protocols remain practically relevant because of historical counterparts.
  • A better client improves usability, but not the security of the protocol.

Facts

  • FTP normally transmits credentials unencrypted.
  • NcFTP has existed for many years.

Recommendations

  • Prefer FTPS, SFTP or SSH with counterparts you control.
  • Use anonymous FTP only for public data.

References

Read the original article

Search the Web Archive

RFC · 1985

RFC 959: FTP: File transfer with separate channels

RFC 959 describes FTP with separate control and data connections and stateful sessions. Separate channels made FTP flexible but make life hard for firewalls and NAT. The lack of transport encryption limits safe use today.

Hostblogger · 2016

SFTP and FTPS as secure upload paths in web hosting

Manuel Schmitt points out that web hosting customers have been able to transfer files via SFTP or FTPS instead of unencrypted FTP for some time. On 26 October 2016, SFTP and FTPS had already been available for a while. Both methods were used for uploads to web hosting packages.

Hackaday · 2025

A modern Linux kernel still fits on a floppy disk

Action Retro trims Linux 6.14 and BusyBox down so far that a bootable system runs from a 1.44 megabyte floppy disk. The kernel used comes from Linux 6.14. The target medium holds about 1.44 megabytes.