TechInfoDepot:Software/WinSCP

WinSCP (Windows Secure CoPy) is a free and open-source SFTP, SCP and FTP client for Microsoft Windows. Its main function is secure file transfer between a local and a remote computer. Beyond this, WinSCP offers basic file manager and file synchronization functionality. For secure transfers, it uses Secure Shell (SSH) and supports the SCP protocol in addition to SFTP. It received 5 out of 5 stars for CNET editors' rating, and is ranked #2 in popularity for FTP software.

Development of WinSCP started around May 2000 and continues. Originally it was hosted by the University of Economics in Prague, where its author worked at the time. Since July 16, 2003 it is licensed under the GNU GPL and hosted on SourceForge.net.

WinSCP is based on the implementation of the SSH protocol from PuTTY and FTP protocol from FileZilla. It is also available as a plugin for two file managers, FAR and Altap Salamander.

Features

 * Graphical user interface
 * Translated into several languages
 * Integration with Windows (Drag-and-drop, URL, shortcut icons)
 * All common operations with files
 * Support for SFTP and SCP protocols over SSH-1 and SSH-2 and FTP protocol
 * Batch file scripting and command-line interface
 * Directory synchronization in several semi or fully automatic ways
 * Integrated text editor
 * Support for SSH password, keyboard-interactive, public key and Kerberos (GSS) authentication
 * Integrates with Pageant (PuTTY authentication agent) for full support of public key authentication with SSH
 * Choice of Windows Explorer–like or Norton Commander–like interfaces
 * Optionally stores session information
 * Optionally import session information from PuTTY sessions in the registry
 * Able to upload files and retain associated original date/timestamps, unlike FTP clients

WinSCP as a remote editor
WinSCP can act as a remote editor. When the user clicks on a (text) file in the remote file manager, it transfers the file to the local machine and opens it in the integrated editor, where Windows users can feel very much at home. Alternatively, the user may choose local editors based on file extensions. Whenever the document is saved, the remote version is updated automatically.

Advertisements in installer
Some older versions of the WinSCP sponsored installer included OpenCandy advertising module. The module used the user's geo-location, operating system and language to choose "relevant advertisements". Revenue from the advertisements was shared between OpenCandy and WinSCP developers and is thus used to support WinSCP development. The advertising module could have been disabled by user, when starting the installer.

The current version of the installer does not contain OpenCandy module. Current versions of the WinSCP installer bundle Google Chrome.

WinSCP itself did not and does not contain any advertisements.

Portable version
Apart from the standard package, three portable versions are also available: A generic package and two customized versions for LiberKey and Portableapps.com.