Secure FTP client for Windows Explorer

Question

I have a small business website that once in awhile I need to upload files to. Before recently I've been keeping an ftp login string in my password manager, that looked as such:

ftp://username:[email protected]:port

I would then copy and paste it into the address bar of the Windows Explorer:

that will open up files that are hosted on the web server. I can then upload, rename & delete files, etc.

So then someone told me that sending my credentials via plain ftp protocol is very unsafe and suggested using ftps instead. Unfortunately, if I replace the protocol with ftps in the string above, Windows doesn't seem to know how to handle it.

How do you guys upload files to the web server in a secure way? Preferably something that works with Windows (and namely Windows Explorer)?

PS. I did my research and someone recommended using Swish. I tried, but the thing is so buggy that it would literally crash my Windows Explorer that would require later reboot just to get my Windows back.

Solution

OK, I have to answer my own question. I tried some products and found that WinSCP (in Explorer GUI setting) matches the most to the Windows Explorer behavior. (And it supports secure ftp protocol.)

Another benefit is that it comes as a portable executable. No need to have an MSI installer "vomit" files all over your system drive.

It also looks to be an open source (you can download a source code.)

Comments

[Ryan Ries]

You need to have a ftps server first. :)

[c00000fd]

@RyanRies: I'm using a shared web hosting service that does support secure ftp.

[Tero Kilkanen]

Use any file copying software that supports SFTP.