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What are Telnet and SSH?

"Telnet" and "SSH" are types of terminal session (also called "terminal emulation") programs that allow users to conduct interactive sessions with computers elsewhere on the Internet by providing a character-based (i.e., non-graphical) connection. Examples of telnet/ssh programs are TeraTerm (for Windows) and BetterTelnet (for Macintosh).

Getting Telnet/SSH Software

The Tools for Safe and Secure Computing page provides all the virus protection, terminal session, and file transfer software you need to securely connect to and use UW computing and networking services.

New Security Requirements

Beginning in mid-June, 2001, telnet/ssh programs used to connect to central UW computing services must have security features to protect passwords or they will not work. Anyone using central UW computing services should update their software. Affected services include email, Unix computing on Dante, Homer, and UW administrative systems such as Keynes and Curie, and others.

Specific terminal session programs that lack these security features and therefore will no longer work after mid-June include Microsoft Telnet, Ewan, NCSA Telnet, and most versions of CRT.

The requirement for password-protecting software is part of a UW-wide effort to improve the security of UW computing and networking by no longer allowing the use of older communications programs that send passwords over the network in easily captured ("clear-text") formats. In addition to the central UW computers, many other computer systems at the UW also require secure software.