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SSH (Secure Shell)

SSH (Secure Shell) is a network protocol that provides system administrators with a secure way to access a computer over an unsecured network. SSH offers encrypted communication between two devices

Glossary

SSH (Secure Shell) is a network protocol that provides system administrators with a secure way to access a computer over an unsecured network. SSH offers encrypted communication between two devices, enabling secure operations such as system administration, file transfer and remote command execution.

Main features of SSH:

  • Strong encryption: SSH uses encryption to ensure that all communications between the client and server are protected from interception and man-in-the-middle attacks.
  • Authentication: Supports various authentication methods, including passwords, public key authentication and host authentication. Key-based authentication is more secure and recommended over passwords.
  • Secure tunnels: SSH can route other network protocols through its encrypted connection, allowing various types of network communications to be secured.
  • File transfer: Although the main purpose of SSH is to provide a secure shell for system administration, it can also be used to transfer files securely using SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) or SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol).

Common uses of SSH:

  1. Remote administration: SSH is the standard tool for secure administration of Unix-based servers and operating systems, such as Linux and macOS, over the Internet.
  2. File transfer: SSH enables secure file transfer between computers using SCP or SFTP.
  3. Application tunneling: SSH tunnels can be used to secure other network protocols, such as HTTP, FTP and SMTP, allowing users to connect securely over unsecured networks.
  4. Port forwarding: SSH can redirect traffic from specific ports through an encrypted tunnel, which is useful for accessing internal services of a protected network from the outside.

SSH tools and commands:

  • OpenSSH: An open-source suite of connectivity tools for managing secure networks through the SSH protocol.
  • PuTTY: A free and open-source SSH and Telnet client for Windows and Unix.
  • Basic commands: ssh to start an SSH session, scp to copy files securely between machines, and sftp for an interactive file transfer session.

SSH is essential for modern network security, providing a secure and encrypted way to perform critical administration and data transfer tasks in distributed environments.