ffsend – Easy and secure file sharing from Linux command line using Firefox send client

Linux users were preferred to go with scp or rsync to copy files or folders.However, so many new options are coming to Linux because it’s a opensource.Anyone can develop a secure software for Linux.

We had written multiple articles in our site in the past about this topic.

Even, today we are going to discuss similar topic called ffsend.

OnionShare, Magic Wormhole, Transfer.sh and Dcp – Dat Copy.

What is ffsend?

ffsend is a command line Firefox Send client that allow users to transfer and receive files and folders through command line.

It allow us to share the files and folders easily and securely from the command line through a safe, private and encrypted link using a single simple command.

Files are shared using the Send service and the allowed file size is up to 2GB.Others are able to download these files with this tool, or through their web browser.

All files are always encrypted on the client, and secrets are never shared with the remote host.Additionally you can add a password for the file upload.

The uploaded files will be removed after the download (default count is 1 up to 10) or after 24 hours. This will make sure that your files does not remain online forever.This tool is currently in the alpha phase. Use at your own risk. Also, only limited installation options are available right now.

Features of ffsend :

  • Fully featured and friendly command line tool
  • Upload and download files and directories securely
  • Always encryption on the client
  • Additional password protection, generation and configurable download limits
  • Built-in file and directory archiving and extraction
  • History tracking your files for easy management
  • Ability to use your own Send host
  • Inspect or delete shared files
  • Accurate error reporting
  • Low memory footprint, due to encryption and download/upload streaming
  • Intended to be used in scripts without interaction

How to install ffsend in Linux?

There is no package for each distributions except Debian and Arch Linux systems. However, we can easily get this utility by downloading the prebuilt appropriate binaries file based on the operating system and architecture.

Run the below command to download the latest available version for your operating system.

$ wget https://github.com/timvisee/ffsend/releases/download/v0.1.2/ffsend-v0.1.2-linux-x64.tar.gz

Extract the tar archive using the following command.

$ tar -xvf ffsend-v0.1.2-linux-x64.tar.gz

Run the following command to identify your path variable.

$ echo $PATH
/home/daygeek/.cargo/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/default/bin:/usr/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl

As we told previously, just move the executable file to your path directory.

$ sudo mv ffsend /usr/local/sbin

Run the ffsend command alone to get the basic usage information.

$ ffsend
ffsend 0.1.2
Usage: ffsend [FLAGS]  ...

Easily and securely share files from the command line.
A fully featured Firefox Send client.

Missing subcommand. Here are the most used:
    ffsend upload  ...
    ffsend download  ...

To show all subcommands, features and other help:
    ffsend help [SUBCOMMAND]

For Arch Linux based users can easily install it with help of AUR Helper, as this package is available in AUR repository.

$ yay -S ffsend

For Debian/Ubuntu systems, use DPKG Command to install ffsend.

$ wget https://github.com/timvisee/ffsend/releases/download/v0.1.2/ffsend_0.1.2_amd64.deb
$ sudo dpkg -i ffsend_0.1.2_amd64.deb

How to Send files using ffsend?

It’s not complicated. We can easily send a file using simple syntax.

Syntax:

$ ffsend upload [/Path/to/the/file/name]

In the following example, we are going to upload a file called passwd-up1.sh. Once you upload the file then you will be getting the unique URL.

$ ffsend upload passwd-up1.sh --copy
Upload complete                                                                                                           
Share link:  https://send.firefox.com/download/a4062553f4/#yy2_VyPaUMG5HwXZzYRmpQ

Just download the above unique URL to get the file in any remote system.

Syntax:

$ ffsend download [Generated URL]

Output for the above command.

$ ffsend download https://send.firefox.com/download/a4062553f4/#yy2_VyPaUMG5HwXZzYRmpQ
Download complete

Use the following syntax format for directory upload.

$ ffsend upload [/Path/to/the/Directory] --copy

In this example, we are going to upload 2g directory.

$ ffsend upload /home/daygeek/2g --copy
You've selected a directory, only a single file may be uploaded.
Archive the directory into a single file? [Y/n]: y
Archiving...
Upload complete                                                                                                           
Share link:  https://send.firefox.com/download/90aa5cfe67/#hrwu6oXZRG2DNh8vOc3BGg  

Just download the above generated the unique URL to get a folder in any remote system.

$ ffsend download https://send.firefox.com/download/90aa5cfe67/#hrwu6oXZRG2DNh8vOc3BGg
You're downloading an archive, extract it into the selected directory? [Y/n]: y
Extracting...
Download complete

As this already send files through a safe, private, and encrypted link. However, if you would like to add a additional security at your level. Yes, you can add a password for a file.

$ ffsend upload file-copy-rsync.sh --copy --password
Password: 
Upload complete                                                                                                           
Share link:  https://send.firefox.com/download/0742d24515/#P7gcNiwZJ87vF8cumU71zA  

It will prompt you to update a password when you are trying to download a file in the remote system.

$ ffsend download https://send.firefox.com/download/0742d24515/#P7gcNiwZJ87vF8cumU71zA
This file is protected with a password.
Password: 
Download complete

Alternatively you can limit a download speed by providing the download speed while uploading a file.

$ ffsend upload file-copy-scp.sh --copy --downloads 10
Upload complete                                                                                                           
Share link:  https://send.firefox.com/download/23cb923c4e/#LVg6K0CIb7Y9KfJRNZDQGw

Just download the above unique URL to get a file in any remote system.

ffsend download https://send.firefox.com/download/23cb923c4e/#LVg6K0CIb7Y9KfJRNZDQGw
Download complete

If you want to see more details about the file, use the following format. It will shows you the file name, file size, Download counts and when it will going to expire.

Syntax:

$ ffsend info [Generated URL]
$ ffsend info https://send.firefox.com/download/23cb923c4e/#LVg6K0CIb7Y9KfJRNZDQGw
ID:         23cb923c4e  
Name:       file-copy-scp.sh  
Size:       115 B  
MIME:       application/x-sh  
Downloads:  3 of 10  
Expiry:     23h58m (86280s)

You can view your transaction history using the following format.

$ ffsend history
#  LINK                                                                  EXPIRY  
1  https://send.firefox.com/download/23cb923c4e/#LVg6K0CIb7Y9KfJRNZDQGw  23h57m  
2  https://send.firefox.com/download/0742d24515/#P7gcNiwZJ87vF8cumU71zA  23h55m  
3  https://send.firefox.com/download/90aa5cfe67/#hrwu6oXZRG2DNh8vOc3BGg  23h52m  
4  https://send.firefox.com/download/a4062553f4/#yy2_VyPaUMG5HwXZzYRmpQ  23h46m  
5  https://send.firefox.com/download/74ff30e43e/#NYfDOUp_Ai-RKg5g0fCZXw  23h44m  
6  https://send.firefox.com/download/69afaab1f9/#5z51_94jtxcUCJNNvf6RcA  23h43m  

If you don’t want the link anymore then we can delete it.

Syntax:

$ ffsend delete [Generated URL]
$ ffsend delete https://send.firefox.com/download/69afaab1f9/#5z51_94jtxcUCJNNvf6RcA
File deleted

Alternatively this can be done using firefox browser by opening the page https://send.firefox.com/.

Just drag and drop a file to upload it.

Once the file is downloaded, it will show you that 100% download completed.

To check other possible options, navigate to main page or help page.

$ ffsend --help
ffsend 0.1.2
Tim Visee <[email protected]>
Easily and securely share files from the command line.
A fully featured Firefox Send client.

USAGE:
    ffsend [FLAGS] [OPTIONS] [SUBCOMMAND]

FLAGS:
    -f, --force          Force the action, ignore warnings
    -h, --help           Prints help information
    -i, --incognito      Don't update local history for actions
    -I, --no-interact    Not interactive, do not prompt
    -q, --quiet          Produce output suitable for logging and automation
    -V, --version        Prints version information
    -v, --verbose        Enable verbose information and logging
    -y, --yes            Assume yes for prompts

OPTIONS:
    -H, --history                 Use the specified history file [env: FFSEND_HISTORY]
    -t, --timeout              Request timeout (0 to disable) [env: FFSEND_TIMEOUT]
    -T, --transfer-timeout     Transfer timeout (0 to disable) [env: FFSEND_TRANSFER_TIMEOUT]

SUBCOMMANDS:
    upload        Upload files [aliases: u, up]
    download      Download files [aliases: d, down]
    debug         View debug information [aliases: dbg]
    delete        Delete a shared file [aliases: del]
    exists        Check whether a remote file exists [aliases: e]
    help          Prints this message or the help of the given subcommand(s)
    history       View file history [aliases: h]
    info          Fetch info about a shared file [aliases: i]
    parameters    Change parameters of a shared file [aliases: params]
    password      Change the password of a shared file [aliases: pass, p]

The public Send service that is used as default host is provided by Mozilla.
This application is not affiliated with Mozilla, Firefox or Firefox Send.

About Vinoth Kumar

Vinoth Kumar has 3.5+ years of experience in Linux server administration & RHEL certified professional. He is currently working as a Senior L2 Linux Server administrator.

View all posts by Vinoth Kumar

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