SSH (Secure Shell) is a network protocol that allows secure remote access to a computer. It uses encryption to secure the communication between the remote user and the computer, ensuring that sensitive data is not exposed to eavesdropping.
To use SSH, a user connects to a remote machine using an SSH client, such as PuTTY. The client sends a request to the remote machine, which is running an SSH server. The server authenticates the user and establishes an encrypted connection between the client and the server. The user can then run commands and interact with the remote machine as if they were sitting in front of it.
SSH uses public-key cryptography to authenticate the user and establish an encrypted connection. The user has a private key that is stored on their local machine, and the remote machine has a corresponding public key. When the user connects to the remote machine, the client uses the user's private key to prove their identity to the server. The server then uses the public key to establish an encrypted connection with the client. This ensures that only the user with the matching private key can access the remote machine and that all communication between the client and server is encrypted.
To log in to a remote machine using SSH with PuTTY, follow these steps:
- Download and install PuTTY from the official website (https://www.putty.org/).
- Open PuTTY and enter the hostname or IP address of the remote machine in the "Host Name (or IP address)" field.
- In the "Connection type" section, select "SSH" from the drop-down menu.
- Click the "Open" button to open a new terminal window and establish a connection to the remote machine.
- When prompted, enter the username and password for the remote machine to log in.
- You should now be logged in to the remote machine and able to run commands and interact with the remote system.