This page is part of the Web Communications Guide to Using FTP. It provides basic guidelines and precautions for creating a directory that allows anonymous users to upload files to your account. This requires setting the permissions on a directory to "world writeable" (check the "pw" checkbox, using the WebCom File Manger). If you do not understand what permissions are, please see our Unix File Security (Permissions) Overview.

The standard name for this type of directory is "incoming". No other files should be located in this directory, and it should not be located under your "www" directory.

The reasons for this are: 1. Files located in a "world" writeable directory may be overwritten by the anonymous user, regardless of the permissions on the file itself; and 2. Files located under the "www" directory are accessible through the WWW regardless of the permissions on the file itself.

All files uploaded into a publicly writeable directory will be owned by you, and inaccessible to anyone else until you change the permissions on them. You should monitor any "writeable" directories on a regular basis for unauthorized materials.

Use standard precautions when dealing with files transferred to your account: virus check them; read the documentation throughly; ask a friend who knows something about computers what they think if you don't understand something.

Note: Anonymous users may create sub-directories under the directory you have made "world writeable". These directories will be "owned" by the anonymous ftp user. Files uploaded to these directories will also be "owned" by the anonymous FTP user and will be accessible without your permission.

The anonymous user may only transfer files to and from directories, and create directories. They may not delete files or directories. As a result, you will not be able to modify the permissions on directories created by the anonymous user, place files in them using your account, or delete these direcotires or any files placed in them. Please contact WebCom system administration should you find this necessary.