Free FTP activity checker

FTP security is so poor that it may be used without your knowledge, exposing your data to accidental or malicious abuse.

FTPalert overcomes all of the traditionally limiting factors which prevent the deployment of FTP in production systems.

Even if you do not run an FTP Server, it is possible to use the FTP client program (submitted as a batch job, or used as a TSO command) to do anything that could be achieved by means of the company's FTP server.

Without FTPalert, inherent weaknesses in FTP security make it possible for users to invoke file transfers without alerting monitoring software which may be in place to warn of such activity. William Data Systems has experience of several installations which claimed to have no FTP traffic only to be shown that they were mistaken.

If you are in any doubt about the level of FTP activity in your installation, simply click the link below. You will receive a zipped file containing:

  • The WDS FTP Activity Check utility - a simple, non-invasive program which interrogates the SMF record file. The program is only 8K so download is instant


  • A readme file with sample JCL and instructions about how to run the program

    • When run on your mainframe, the WDS FTP Activity Check generates a report showing:

  • Whether or not FTP activity is being monitored via SMF. If it is not, you will never know your exposure to FTP usage so perhaps now is the time to start recording FTP activity


  • If SMF records are being created for Client and Server FTP activity, the FTP Activity Check will show you both outbound and inbound FTP file transfer activity

    • Give the Free WDS FTP Activity Checker a try. You have nothing to lose but your data!