Anonymous file transfer protocol

The anonymous file transfer protocol is a method for downloading public files using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). Anonymous FTP is called anonymous because users do not need to identify themselves before accessing files from a particular server. In general, users enter the word "anonymous" when the host prompts for a username; anything can be entered for the password, such as the user’s e-mail address or simply the word "guest". In many cases, an anonymous FTP site will not even prompt users for a name and password.