ftp safe?

Using ftp to upload files, is it safe? Why some people promoted the use of ssl with ftp(server-U) or sftp?

When you are using ftp, all your information is passed through without encryption, so anyone with a packet sniffer can read the information being sent between your computer and the server.

Following on from this, remove telnet-server and ftp-server from your system and install ssh and scp (which comes as part of the ssh package). Then get a ssh client (SSH Secure Shell from www.ssh.com is the one I use) and you can upload your files and command your server via an encrypted channel.