The Unix Support SSH CD

This CD is no longer maintained. This page remains for historical interest and people running old enough systems to care. Do NOT rely on this for anything security related

• Copy of the current ssh CD
• Copy of the latest version of the known_hosts file
• The CD's notice on the legality of its use.
• Raw image of the current ssh CD

Introduction

There are regular occurrences of account details for Cambridge University computer systems being captured when their legitimate users log in from remote locations using a system or a network which is in some way insecure. Typically such a user will be using a Telnet or FTP client, or the Unix commands rlogin or rsh.

As well as the possible effect of this on the owner of the account, it should be noted that an intruder intent on compromising the security of a Cambridge system is greatly assisted in getting system-level access to the machine by the acquisition of access to a user account.

An alternative and much more secure method of logging in to many Unix systems around the University is available: ssh provides an alternative to rlogin, rsh, rcp and telnet for accessing a machine at a remote location. When an ssh client is used all data (including passwords) is transmitted in an encrypted form so that it cannot be usefully intercepted.

Unix Support has produced a CD containing ssh clients for a wide variety of Unix systems and a client for Win32 systems and Macintoshes. The CD is intended for use by staff and students of the University who are visiting remote locations that do not offer ssh already but which allow users to access CDs and who wish to use their Cambridge accounts while they are away.

The CD is available to staff and students from Computing Service Reception free of charge. The current pressed version carries the volume title UCAM_SSH_CD_05.

Please note that this software is unsupported. It is certainly not supported by the Help Desk who have nothing to do with it. Unix Support cannot offer end-user support either; there are just too many varieties of system out there and we don't "do users" very well either. Unix Support will gratefully receive, however, informed comment on how to make future versions of the CD better.