Using Secure ftp instead of  unencrypted versions

Traditional ftp programs available under windows and elswhere for sending files between PCs and servers, eg from a home PC to bell.phon.ucl.ac.uk  in the Department of Phonetics & Linguistics, are  insecure as they  pass all information including passwords across the Internet unencrypted. These insecure ftp systems are not now available on  the Phonetics and Linguistics server, bell . PCs using only secure ftp client programs will be accepted. These are not currently provided with PC Windows.

If you transfer files from a PC outside the department  to the Phon/Ling server bell.phon.ucl.ac.uk  (eg you transfer web pages to your webspace for www.phon.ucl.ac.uk from outside the Phon/Ling network after logging in) then you must be using  a program incorporating secure ftp as no other protocol  will work for these transfers.

An easy to use secure ftp program, 'WinSCP application'  which will transfer directories as well as files can be downloaded from winscp.sourceforge.net/eng/download.php  . Click on  'WinSCP application'  on this web page to download the install program onto your PC disk then click on the downloaded setup file if it doesn't install automatically. Then click on the installed program WinSCP icon for the secure ftp transfer menu and enter your phon/ling login name password and server, name bell.phon.ucl.ac.uk On the first connection from a PC it will ask if you trust that the computer you are connecting to is really the one you want. It you accept then you will not be prompted again from this PC unless the encryption key is changed on the server.  The left panel  diaplayed lists files on your PC and the right panel files in your login directory on the server. For your home pages on www.phon.ucl.ac.uk change directory to /www/home/your_login_name. 

Thie above has nothing to do with the anonymous ftp system for getting files from a particular area on the server without needing a personal username and password. This is accessed at:   ftp://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/pub/temp  from a web browser.

Departmental Computing Information