Understanding FTPS

Two separate methods were developed to invoke client security for use with FTP clients: Explicit or Implicit. The former method is a legacy compatible implementation where FTPS aware clients can invoke security with an FTPS aware server without breaking overall FTP functionality with non-FTPS aware clients. The later method is incompatible method that requires clients to be FTPS aware. WinSCP supports both methods.

In explicit mode, a FTPS client must “explicitly request” security from a FTPS server and then step-up to a mutually agreed encryption method. If a client does not request security, the FTPS server can either allow the client to continue insecure or refuse/limit the connection.

In Explicit Mode, the client has full control over what areas of the connection are to be encrypted. Enabling and disabling of encryption for the FTPS control channel and FTPS data channel can occur at any time. WinSCP though requests encryption for both control and data channel unconditionally during whole session.

Negotiation is not allowed with implicit FTPS configurations. A client is immediately expected to challenge the FTPS server with a connection encrypted using TLS/SSL. If it does not, the server should drop the connection.

In order to maintain compatibility with existing non-TLS/SSL aware FTP clients, implicit FTPS was expected to listen on the IANA Well Known Port 990/TCP for the FTPS control channel and 989/TCP for the FTPS data channel. This allowed administrators to retain legacy compatible services on the original 21/TCP FTP control channel.

In Implicit Mode, the entire FTPS session (both control and data channels) is unconditionally encrypted.

Much like HTTPS, but unlike SSH, FTPS servers must provide a public key certificate. This certificate must be signed by a certificate authority.

If it is not, WinSCP will generate a warning stating that the certificate is not valid. Whether or not to trust such certificate is your choice. If you are connecting within a company network, you might feel that all the network users are on the same side and spoofing attacks are unlikely, so you might choose to trust the certificate without checking it. If you are connecting across a hostile network (such as the Internet), you should check with your system administrator, perhaps by telephone or in person.

Learn also how to accept certificate automatically in script.