Built on a client-server model architecture and in use for roughly five decades, FTP allows for the easy transfer of files and folders between computers. However, because data is transmitted unencrypted, the protocol has long been considered insecure. Secure variants do exist, including one that leverages SSL/TLS (FTPS), or the SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).

Almost since the beginning, FTP has been supported by all major browsers, but security problems have resulted in decreased usage, as well as deprecation in favor of more secure alternatives.