FTP and HTTP Security

[HomerSimpson]

I have heard many time that ftp is not secure. I have been told to stop running it.

I understand that when a person logs into an ftp server their username and password are sent in clear text. Also data is not encrypted.

That is the same with http. Right?

Is ftp inherently less secure than http?

If a person was just using ftp with anonymous accounts and all files were read only, is ftp still insecure (ie compared to hhtp)?

I have files that I want to give to people and ftp (or http) seemed the simplest way. ftp is nice because they can send files to me but receiving files on a server, I know first hand, opens a new can of worms.

What is the best/safest/easiest way to share files? Note: The people I share files with run Windows.

Thx
_________________
The strong must protect the Sweet.

[hoochiepapa]

replace ftp with sftp from net-misc/openssh

for your windows users, have them install cygwin's openssh package
http://www.cygwin.com/
I installed that on my windows box, ssh for remote shell, sftp for ftp

for http, look at mod_ssl ssl will encrypt the traffic