Configure SFTP or FTP service on your router for secure file transfers.
Configure SFTP or FTP service on your router for secure file transfers.
I connected a USB into my router and set up an FTP server, thinking it would work only within the network. I’d like it to be reachable online for broader use. However, FTP doesn’t encrypt credentials, which seems risky. I found out that if the router supports a VPN, it could help secure the connection. I’m not sure how to set this up, but anyone with advice would be great. My router model is an Archer A7 AC1750.
The main concept involves configuring a VPN on your router to allow remote access to your home network. This enables you to operate FTP as if you were physically present at home. Note: SFTP differs from FTP; the secure alternative is FTPS. If your router doesn’t support either, VPN combined with FTP becomes the optimal choice. Here’s a video guide I discovered for setting up a VPN on the Archer A7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61JIXDfONg0
I completely understand @Eigenvektor — you should definitely explore SFTP or FTP over SSL. However, some research suggests SFTP might not be available with the current firmware on that router. From my experience, USB-to-FTP configurations are often just tricks, insecure, and shouldn't be exposed online. Performance will also be slow, making it hard to access your full upstream bandwidth when sharing files. If you need secure internet file sharing, consider these alternatives: 1) run an SFTP server on a budget Raspberry Pi and host it in a DMZ, or 2) upgrade the router’s firmware to OpenWrt (which likely supports SFTP), though be cautious—upgrading can brick your device. For my own use, I rely on Dropbox or Google Drive for regular files, and store large files on my own server on a separate machine as suggested. Hope this clears things up and you enjoy learning more!
Understood, appreciated the explanation about SFTP versus FTPS.