Use Putty's Pscp.exe to securely copy files between computers. Everyone frequently needs to copy files to and from different computers, even over the Internet. I still see a lot of unsecured FTP used, when it should have been retired long ago. Consider instead any one of the hundreds of more secure alternatives. My favorite? scp (Unix, Linux, BSD) or Pscp.exe (Windows). Scp and Pscp.exe using SSH to securely (en Use Putty’s Pscp.exe to securely copy files between computers.Everyone frequently needs to copy files to and from different computers, even over the Internet. I still see a lot of unsecured FTP used, when it should have been retired long ago. Consider instead any one of the hundreds of more secure alternatives. My favorite? scp (Unix, Linux, BSD) or Pscp.exe (Windows). Scp and Pscp.exe using SSH to securely (encrypt files and authenticate destinations) copy files from one computer to another. Most Linux, Unix, and BSD hosts already have scp (secure copy). Windows doesn’t have any default utilities like scp, but the programmers of Putty (the fantastic, free SSH Windows client), offer very similar Pscp.exe. You can download Putty or Pscp.exe here.With scp or Pscp.exe you can copy files over temporary SSH tunnels between source and destination. The only problem is that at least one of the machines has to be running an SSH server/daemon. Most Unix, Linux, and BSD’s have that (i.e. sshd). If you don’t have one, follow my yesterday instructions on loading OpenBSD, and it will easily load an sshd service. Then you can use the OpenBSD box/image to copy files. I like to copy Pscp.exe to WindowsSystem32 and rename it scp.exe, so I can use scp in Unix, Linix, BSD, and Windows without thinking about it.Syntax is basically like the DOS copy command: scp [from where if not there] [what] [to where?]but you have to add a logon name, the @ sign, and machine name/IP address for the remote machine, so the syntax is:scp [from where if not there] [what] [logonname]@x.x.x.x:[to where?]Examples of syntax, if I’m on the box I’m copying from:scp *.* roger@192.168.4.1:/scp frog.tar roger@www.banneretcs.com:/tmpExamples of the syntax if I’m on the destination box: scp roger@192.168.5.6:c:/files/toad.zip Windowtempscp roger@www.banneretcs.com:toolsputty*.* c:newtoolsScp is free, works great across any TCP/IP network, across the network, and you can send it to customers to use, and automate in batch files and scripts.Once you start using scp, you’ll probably never use ftp again. Related content analysis The 5 types of cyber attack you're most likely to face Don't be distracted by the exploit of the week. Invest your time and money defending against the threats you're apt to confront By Roger Grimes Aug 21, 2017 7 mins Phishing Malware Social Engineering analysis 'Jump boxes' and SAWs improve security, if you set them up right Organizations consistently and reliably using one or both of these approaches have far less risk than those that do not. By Roger Grimes Jul 26, 2017 13 mins Authentication Access Control Data and Information Security analysis Attention, 'red team' hackers: Stay on target You hire elite hackers to break your defenses and expose vulnerabilities -- not to be distracted by the pursuit of obscure flaws By Roger Grimes Dec 08, 2015 4 mins Hacking Data and Information Security Network Security analysis 4 do's and don'ts for safer holiday computing It's the season for scams, hacks, and malware attacks. But contrary to what you've heard, you can avoid being a victim pretty easily By Roger Grimes Dec 01, 2015 4 mins Phishing Malware Patch Management Software Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe