Summary

Turning off Telnet and FTP and moving to Secure Shell makes sense and protects both passwords and data from being sent in the clear. In addition to encryption, Secure Shell provides a way to authenticate both the end user and host. This document has illustrated how host keys play an integral role in establishing this trusted connection. In order to maintain the security and integrity of the system, users and administrators need to understand host keys and the correct method for verifying them.