Question

Your boss asks you to transmit a small file that includes sensitive personnel data to a server on the network. The server is running a Telnet server and an FTPS server. Why is it not a good idea to use Telnet to reach the remote computer?
a. Telnet transmissions are not encrypted.
b. Telnet is not reliable and the fi le might arrive corrupted.
c. FTP is faster than Telnet.
d. FTP running on the same computer as Telnet causes Telnet to not work.

Answer 1

Answer:

a. Telnet transmissions are not encrypted.

Explanation:

Indeed, since Telnet transmissions are not encrypted, all the information sent, and even the characters typed in the telnet console are sent in clear text.

This is a security issue, since any other device in the same network will receive a copy of the information (packets) sent. For default, all the devices, except for the server expecting to receive the information, will discard the packets. However it is easy to actively listen and keep those packets, wich will contain the information in plain text and human readable.