Sometimes you need to be sure that your FTP transfers are not going to get hijacked or intercepted by a third party. Most FTP applications are not designed for secure transfers over SSL which is why WinSCP was developed.

For starters, be warned that WinSCP is not the easiest FTP client to use. Because of the extra security features, it can appear overwhelming at first although it does feature a graphical user interface. It also supports integration with Windows in terms of drag & dropping files, pasting in URL's and shortcuts.

The key to the program is the fact that it supports both SFTP and SCP protocols over SSH-1 and SSH-2. Of course, it also supports normal FTP protocols too. It also features full support for SSH password and Kerberos (GSS) authentication. A particularly nice little addition is the Session Saving option. If you want to save your session configuration, you can use the save button on the login dialogue. In this way, you can make huge FTP file transfers and not worry about stopping and completing it later.

This is not the most user friendly FTP client out there but it must be one of the most secure. If security is your concern, you won't be disappointed by what it offers.

Download WinSCP 4.1.6 in Softonic

Putty is a popular SSH and Telnet client that helps you establish secure connections over the Internet and doesn't even require installation.

It's especially aimed for programmers and network administrators, which means that newcomers won't find it easy to use. The program features a simple, straightforward interface with no included documentation.

Despite its apparent simplicity, Putty is highly configurable and includes many options to tweak connections, sessions, SSH security features and even the window's appearance.

If you ever need to establish SSH or Telnet connections online, Putty is probably the most reliable choice.

Download PuTTY 0.60 in Softonic

If you're a fan of PuTTY then you'll be pleased to hear that now you can take it anywhere with PuTTY portable.

PuTTY Portable is a Telnet Client and SSH Server for Windows that is packed with features and can be transported anywhere on a USB stick or external storage device. Whatsmore, it's completely free. Firstly however, note that the developer issues a warning on the program website that PuTTY Portable may not be legal in your country so check the law before you use it! Basically, PuTTY Portable allows you to connect to another computer remotely using the Telnet and SSH protocols. So for example, you can install it on a Windows machine and it will connect to a Unix machine. This is great if you are administrator as you can take full control of the machine and work at it remotely. In the PuTTY windows that's opened, you can them send messages to the other machine and vice versa. The annoying thing however is that you have to set up password credentials to instigate this connection. The problem is that the program does not remember the credentials for successive logins. This is understandable for security reasons, but would be very annoying if you`re connecting regularly to an external client.

If you need to control a remote computer and need a client that supports SSH, then PuTTY Portable is a superb option considering that it's totally free and portable.

Download PuTTY Portable 0.60 in Softonic

HyperTerminal Private Edition (HTPE) is an upgrade from the standard HyperTerminal program which is included in every copy of Windows 95/98 and NT 4.0. It offers many features that you won't find in the standard program, making it an essential version for those who frequently use the standard HyperTerminal client.

HyperTerminal offers the following features:

• Microsoft Windows security bug fixed
• Fully compatible with Windows 2000
• Supports VT320 terminal emulation, which is used by many businesses for access to applications running on UNIX and VMS host computers
• Enhanced printing control to print through Windows’ print driver
• Dozens of other quality improvements

Download HyperTerminal Private Edition (HTPE) 6.3 in Softonic

Portable Tunnelier is a portable client SSH and proves to have all the functions that you need to connect, in a safe way, with other machines through the network. Its portability is its key asset. The program requires no prior installation and can be accessed directly from a pendrive, a CD or any other storage medium, allowing you to get on the network very quickly.

The software will allow you to connect via SSH or SSH2, to emulate bvterm, xterm or vt1000 terminals; to authenticate sessions by SSPI (GSSAPI) Kerberos 5 and NTLM, to work with public keys RSA/DSA. As a result, it is a great way to communicate with other machines without compromising the security of your system.

Download Portable Tunnelier 4.24 in Softonic