While FTP is a common and effective way to share files with another server or computer, it’s not secure enough. Using it with a reliable proxy server can make the whole process of transferring files a lot more secure. Before we explain how, let’s see what FTP and proxy servers are.
FTP is a network protocol used for transferring files between computers over TCP/IP connections. People use it to share files between remote computers which is common in many businesses nowadays.
In an FTP transfer, there’s a local host, the computer of the end user, and a remote host, the other computer or server involved in the transaction. Both of them need to be connected via a network, and the client must install FTP software to access the service.
Using FTP, a client can save, move, copy, delete, download, rename, and upload files on a remote server.
A proxy server is a device that uses its own IP address to connect your device to servers on the net. It functions as a bridge between you and websites, apps, games, and every other online destination. By using its own IP address and not yours, the proxy hides your device’s identifiable information, including your IP address and location.
It works by taking the requests you make to online servers, processing them, and sending them to their destinations. In the same manner, a proxy receives the responses from all these servers before it forwards them back to you. This is how it works on your behalf. By keeping your IP address and location hidden, the proxy increases your online privacy and security.
Back when the file transferring protocol was designed, there were not many online security risks. In fact, the internet was available only in research centers and universities, so computer networks were regarded as safe.
However, times have changed and the increased levels of connectivity have increased the risk of cybercrimes and other online threats. This can be detrimental when transferring valuable data with a method like FTP that’s not famous for the security it provides.
The reason why this protocol is not secure is that it transfers file data and user authentication data as plain text over the network. In other words, the traffic between the FTP server and the FTP client is not encrypted. The transfer of unencrypted data can lead to data leaks and user authentication details being stolen.
That’s why using a proxy to add an extra layer of security to your FTP transfer is highly recommended, especially when sharing sensitive data with another business office or computer.
A reliable proxy can hide this traffic from cybercriminals and anyone else interested in the data you’re transferring. It’ll give you a new IP address to use during the file transfer, so the communication will first go to the proxy’s IP address before reaching the right destination.
It’ll also deny or allow the transfer depending on the IP address of the source and destination, user authentication, and other factors.
By providing a gateway between servers or computers on the internet as well as authenticating both the sender and the receiver before the transfer even begins, a proxy server secures data transferred between networks. This can be really helpful for businesses of all kinds as it’ll help them protect against data breaches of valuable and sensitive information.
Since you’re looking for a way to improve the security of the file transferring protocol, you should choose the most secure type of proxy server, residential proxies. Residential proxies provide legitimate IP addresses from real users and real ISPs, thus enabling unparalleled online privacy and security. Datacenter proxies are a better option if you plan to transfer large amounts of data since they don’t have any bandwidth limitations.
Just make sure you get your residential proxies instead of getting them for free. This means avoiding free proxies no matter how tempting it may be. You might save some money, but your data is priceless. Getting your proxy servers from a premium provider like IPRoyal is the only way to know they are highly secure.
