How Telnet Brought Information to the Masses

Telnet, which is short for TELecommunication NETwork, is a user command that integrates a TCP/IP protocol, and it is used for accessing remote computers. It makes it possible for an administrator to access another user’s computer remotely. Developed in 1969, TELNET started out with RFC 15, and in the following years, it was standardized to IETF STD 8. Incidentally, one of the first Internet standards was IETF STD 8.

Presently, on the World Wide Web, you can request a certain file from a remote computer. This is generally rendered using the HTTP or the FTP protocols. As such, you don’t need to log in as the user of that computer to request a file. The unique feature about Telnet is that, unlike HTTP and FTP, it will allow you to log in as the administrator or user of a remote computer. This means that you will have more privileges over that computer.

To start a Telnet session, you first need to enter a valid username and password. This enables you to log in to the server console. After you log in, you will have control of the dedicated server and be able to communicate with the network’s other dedicated servers. Commands are entered in the Telnet program, and they get executed. Generally, you will be using Telnet or ‘Telneting’ with a basic network device, such as a switch or a simple dedicated server system like UNIX.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Telnet was predominantly used in academic institutions, government research centers, and large private research facilities. Hytelnet was one Telnet hypertext directory that attempted to centralize all library data. It was first compiled in 1990 by Peter Scott, and it was a primitive terminal-based GUI. However, in the next few decades, the explosion of the Internet brought the security issue to the fore. This made it necessary for the data to be encrypted, as more and more people were attempting to hack other people’s servers. The drawback of Telnet is that it doesn’t encrypt data which is sent over a connection. It cannot even encrypt a password. This makes it easy for anyone to obtain and change the username and password information. The hacker only needs an access to the gateway, router, or switch. He can then intercept the packets which are being sent and acquire the password and username.

It is this security issue that has been the primary cause for Telnet’s dwindling popularity. Nowadays, more people prefer using the SSH protocol instead of the Telnet protocol. SSH have similar functionalities. However, it has a strong encryption system that secures sensitive data, and this makes it the first choice for accessing remote computers.

Presently, Telnet’s use is restricted to network diagnostics, debugging network services (SMTP, IRC), and accessing host applications by enterprise networks such as IBM mainframes. Additionally, Telnet is widely used for MUD games played online as well as certain online communities like MUSH, MOO, and BBS. Telnet clients are available for almost all platforms, and most operating systems with a TCP/IP stack support come bundled with Telnet. In the latest Microsoft Windows release (Windows Vista), Telnet isn’t installed as default. However, it is included as an installable feature.