
If you need to use FTP, use a regular FTP client, such as Panic’s Transmit, that can also talk FTP over SSL, FTP+TLS, and SFTP - all secure implementations of the FTP protocol. FTP support is really only useful for local trusted networks as well anyone using plain-jane FTP with authentication on the Internet these days is ignorant, insane, or plain old asking to get hacked. WebDAV support is quite good and supports HTTPS so that is the only realistic choice for remote file management – if the remote server provides it. SMB, for Windows file sharing, works well, and so does the AFP support, for Mac file sharing. It can communicate with remote servers using SMB, AFP, WebDAV, and to some extent, FTP as well. Unfortunately, it’s support for remote file systems is quite limited, making it really useful only in a local network environment. The Finder is the primary navigator of files, directories, and file systems on OS X. You can use secure file transfer protocols and navigate remote file systems that will show up in Mac’s Finder. Vincent Danen recommends the ExpanDrive tool to integrate remote file systems with Mac OS X. You can use secure file transfer protocols and navigate remote file systems that will show up in Mac's Finder. Using ExpanDrive to mount remote file systems
