Why is SFTP better than FTP?
Despite the similarity in name the two protocols are completely different.
In FTP all data is passed back and forth between the client and server without the use of encryption. This makes it possible for an evesdropper to listen in and retrieve your confidential information including login details. Unlike standard FTP, it encrypts both commands and data, preventing passwords and sensitive information from being transmitted in the clear over the network. It is functionally similar to FTP, but because it uses a different protocol, you can't use a standard FTP client to talk to an SFTP server, nor can you connect to an FTP server with a client that supports only SFTP.
