This $10 per month* add-on replaces our Standard browser-based file transfer client with our Secure file transfer client. The Secure version creates a secure HTTPS tunnel between the browser and the server. This SSL-encrypted tunnel protects all data in transit and, due to using the standard port 443 for HTTPS, is still firewall-friendly .
As the screenshot above-left shows, the Secure version indicates the presence of an SSL-secure connection with a key lock symbol. This security tunnel can be further proven with packet sniffing software.
And, as the screenshot above-right shows, you can combine the Secure version ($10/mo) with our Custom version ($5/mo) for a web interface that is both encrypted and branded ($15/mo).
See more examples on our Demo site
* There is a one-time setup fee of $50 to enable this feature.
How it Works
- The FTP Today Java FTP Client Applet loads in the user's browser. This can occur over standard HTTP, since all that is occuring at this step is to load an applet in the user's browser.
- Once the Java Applet takes over the client's browser, all communication from the Java Applet to the Java Servlet is encrypted as shown by the green line. All the handling of user id and password is done through JavaScript built in to the user's browser. This ensures that unencrypted data is never passed outside of the user's machine.
- Securely tunneled FTP traffic is internally forwarded (within the FTP Today secure network) by the HTTPS server to your FTP site as shown by the red line, and is secure from any snooping or sniffing attempts. There it is de-crypted to pass standard FTP protocol to your FTP site.
- Because all traffic to the user's browser is confined to HTTPS (port 443), our Secure Web FTP Client is firewall-friendly, unlike direct FTP (port 21) connections that are blocked by most firewalls.
The following screenshots demonstrate network traffic with an FTP Today Secure Web FTP Client connection versus a standard FTP connection. In the first image, the Secure Web FTP Client makes it impossible for information to be intercepted because all public traffic is over HTTPS with SSL encryption.
Without the FTP Today Secure Web FTP Client all traffic over standard FTP is clearly visible to packet sniffing software.