Copying files between computers is a common task, and there are a lot of protocols designed to do just that. But not all protocols are created equally. Many people use the popular OpenSSH scp command to transfer files, but few understand the risks surrounding it. This blog post will attempt to explain what the SCP and SFTP protocols are, how they work, and why SFTP should be used wherever possible.

If you've ever used Linux, you’ve probably heard about SELinux or Security-enhanced Linux. For a very long time, my interaction with it was just restricted to: Like many other security solutions, SELinux can sometimes be annoying, and understanding even the basic concepts can change our bigger enemy to our best friend.