The XML-encoded data can then be sent to another computer using HTTP, FTP, or other transmission mechanism.

Zmanda's community edition of BackupPC has added the ability to use FTP, as well as other patches that are part of the 3.2.0 version of mainline.

"No problem," I thought, "I'll use passive-mode FTP, which can get through that firewall."

If you're tired of explaining how to use FTP to your great-aunt Ruth, the web interface makes it easy to share files.

Ultimately, after a round of testing, I settled on using AFP as a fast-and-convenient access protocol, and FTP (via curl) for its raw speed.

Support for uploading, downloading and synchronization using FTP and SFTP.

So that's why I use secure FTP when I transfer.

Using FTP, the program also determines which files need to be uploaded for an update.

If your browser decides to start downloading webpages using FTP, that's between the browser and the remote server; the rest of the network doesn't care.

Only those using BitTorrent, FTP, or other targeted protocols would receive deeper scrutiny; e-mail and web requests should remain private in such a system.