I Am Unable To Open My File Manager

Hosting Support
21

I am able to access Monsta but cannot properly upload files (also using FTP) but i can create files in the web interface and they are persisting

22

First, I would like to make a note to users that may choose to use my JFTP instances.

I have no intentions to steal any FTP credentials, I maintain these sites to ensure that they are safe for everyone to use.

The JFTP instances, while they may be hosted on InfinityFree servers, are not at all related to InfinityFree in any way. (Sorry, I forgot to mention that @Greenreader9)

Second, while I make sure to keep the JFTP instances secure, I would like to note that @Greenreader9 has a major point when it comes down to sharing your FTP credentials on external sites.

Regardless of whatever a site says or whatever the owner of an FTP site says, you should never share your FTP credentials with external FTP sites unless you either own them or your hosting provider provides the services for your use. Only use an online external FTP service as a LAST RESORT, once you are finished using the external online FTP client, CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD!.

Almost every device out there runs an OS that has a high chance of supporting an FTP app. We recommend FileZilla because the app works well with InfinityFree’s FTP connection, and it works on many common devices. Windows, Mac, Linux, it works on those.

If you use other OSes, chances are that there is a working trusted FTP client out there for that. Android? PowerFTP is what I use, and it’s kinda like Monsta, with the built-in editor. ChromeOS? Many extensions and webapps are available for that purpose. (I can’t recommend an app for a platform I haven’t used.)

Using a work/school device? Chances are, you could still use a local FTP app. I know of a Windows FileZilla portable version that you can download from here.

For Mac, as long as your Mac isn’t configured to block all apps except the supplied ones, you can run FileZilla without moving the app to the Applications folder, and it will work as it should.

The FTP software InfinityFree (and iFastNet, aka premium hosting) uses is Monsta FTP. If you really need to have an Online FTP client, first get a free subdomain for an account you have the storage for. Then, you can download a copy of Monsta FTP from https://www.monstaftp.com/, activate the 45-day trial license to get the full features of Monsta FTP like File Editing and Zip Extraction, and upload the files. If you use an external online FTP client to upload the files, make sure to CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD.

After you do all of that, Monsta FTP will work with the neccesities out of the box. Once you enter the 45-day key, it will work with all features; you should be able to upload files and edit them from your own instance. And since this is a copy you downloaded and installed yourself, you own it and that means for as long as it isn’t tampered with you can trust it.

That’s what I have done to get a working online FTP client for myself. Since I own and maintain my copy, I can trust it.

That’s all I have to say about that.

That is common with IF’s Monsta FTP client. I never understood the issue, hopefully that gets resolved while the downtime is being resolved too.

23

My file was too large, but it does definitely still have issues with many small files at a time

24

While I have no evidence to suggest that you’re not being truthful, I also have no evidence to suggest that credentials are actually safe.

Also, don’t forget that you have to trust both the intent of the operator of the file manager (i.e. they aren’t purposely stealing your credentials), you also have to trust their skill (they haven’t misconfigured their service so it leaks credentials anyway). And just to be clear: I have no evidence of your file manager being safe or not safe.

That is why the rule of thumb is still to not use third party file managers. Even if they say they don’t record and abuse your account credentials, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t actually doing that.

This is bad advice that underestimates the harm that stolen credentials can do.

NEVER use third party file managers if you care about the safety of your account. Not even as a last resort. Just don’t touch them with a ten foot pole.

There is no way to know for sure that the file manager operator doesn’t immediately begin the process of uploading malware to your website or steal your data the moment you click the login button. Changing your password afterwards can mitigate the damage, but it’s no guarantee that no damage has already been done.