Cannot change file permission via FTP: '500 - command not understood'

Question

I have an old site that is in danger of being compromised as many of the directories and files have permissions set to 777. However, when I try to change them to 555 via FileZilla I get the error

500 'SITE CHMOD 555 filename': command not understood

Googling it only reveals issues relevant to connecting to the server, but I can do that, as well as up and downloading files. I'm not sure what this means exactly. Is it that my account doesn't have sufficient permissions to make these changes?

Solution

Better change the permissions either via your File manager( which should be available in your control panel) or directly via SSH access by using the chmod command.

Comments

[Josh Mountain]

Do you have SSH access?

[MeltingDog]

@Riboflavin no, just FTP

[MrWhite]

Are you on a Windows server? chmod is a unix command.

[eyoung100]

As w3d pointed out in his comment, chmod, a UNIX/LINUX command is not available on a Windows Host. FileZilla uses the chmod command, and AFAIK, there is no equivalent in Windows. The control Panel in Plesk I assume is akin to the Security Tab of the Properties Window in Windows, which is why you are able to "via the control panel"