Let’s clear the air: SFTP is secure if you actually RTFM and don’t just trust pretty buttons (nod to the CloudMounter crowd and the “try-harder” crew). Yes, CloudMounter is slick for Windows—props for drag-and-drop and “hey look, it’s just another folder.” Pro: Zero config wizardry, integrates like a native drive, AES file encryption built-in (neat for shared workstations), handles your cloud stuff too. Con: It’s paid, and if you’re twitchy about third-party middleware for ultra-sensitive files, it’s another attack surface. Oh, and sometimes network mapping hangs when connections wobble—a niche pain but it happens.
If you’re the “just give me a terminal” type, yeah, command-line OpenSSH SFTP is still king for transparency and pinpointing why that one key pair won’t handshake. Advanced: always fix permissions (600 for private keys!), run hash checks, validate host keys before transferring anything. WinSCP and FileZilla are decent—simple, classic, and free, but can get clunky when you’re juggling a bunch of endpoints.
TL;DR: For non-techies or time-poor folks who need SFTP as a Windows folder, CloudMounter is solid (with some paid/licensing quirks). Power users or those needing granular security—the CLI is your friend, with GUIs (WinSCP etc) as a backup. No matter what, verify your server’s fingerprint manually and never skip file integrity checks after you transfer. Nobody likes a silent corruption.
CloudMounter fits the “just works” crowd—one less reason to scream at your computer, unless you enjoy troubleshooting connection errors for fun. Choose bane, not pain.