Is the ftp.exe no longer supported?

Question

Is the ftp.exe no longer supported?

Participant 41

ftp.exe is it outdated and no longer supported?

Microsoft does not recommend using ftp.exe?

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Yes, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is considered outdated and less secure compared to newer technologies and protocols available today. While ftp.exe, the command-line FTP client included with Windows, is still available in some versions of Windows, Microsoft does not recommend using it due to security concerns. FTP transmits data, including usernames and passwords, in plain text, which makes it vulnerable to interception and attacks.

Microsoft recommends using more secure alternatives, such as:

SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol): Uses SSH (Secure Shell) to encrypt data transfers.
FTPS (FTP Secure): Uses SSL/TLS (Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security) to encrypt the control and/or data channels.

I hope the information above is helpful.

Best Regards,

Yanhong Liu

============================================

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Answer 2

Participant 41

But my question is not about FTP, but about ftp.exe.

You did not answer clearly: it is not clear whether you are writing about FTP, or about ftp.exe.

Yanhong Liu 14,205 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-08T06:15:49.4866667+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I'm sorry that my previous answer confused you.

ftp.exe is a command-line tool for file transfers via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Although it still works fine, the FTP protocol used by ftp.exe is inherently insecure because it transfers data in clear text, including usernames and passwords, which makes it vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. Therefore, while ftp.exe is not obsolete in the sense that it still works, it is obsolete in terms of security standards. Microsoft does not recommend the use of ftp.exe because there are more secure alternatives, such as SFTP or FTPS.

I wish you all the best.

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Participant 41 Reputation points

2024-08-08T06:20:24.8733333+00:00

Instead of ftp.exe what program does Microsoft offer?
Yanhong Liu 14,205 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-08T06:44:59.66+00:00

Hi,

Please refer to the following link: https://alternativeto.net/software/filezilla/

You can use WinSCP as a replacement for ftp.exe, depending on your needs.
Participant 41 Reputation points

2024-08-08T06:47:47.4733333+00:00

Does Microsoft suggest using programs created by other companies?

Does Microsoft not have its own program for working with FTP?
Yanhong Liu 14,205 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-08T06:55:51.6666667+00:00

Hi,

Microsoft generally encourages the use of its own software solutions but recognizes that users may need to use third-party programs to meet specific needs.

Thank you for your understanding.

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Is the ftp.exe no longer supported?

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