Why is SSH preferred over Telnet for remote device management?

SSH encrypts traffic between source and destination; Telnet sends everything (including credentials) in plaintext.

SSH (Secure Shell) encrypts traffic between source and destination, while Telnet transmits everything in plaintext.

SSH requires:

• A unique authentication key (RSA)
• Minimum 1024-bit modulus recommended
• Larger keys are more secure but slower to process

With SSH, credentials and commands cannot be intercepted by attackers monitoring network traffic.

Go deeper:

• Secure Shell — Wikipedia — explains how SSH replaced plaintext protocols like Telnet by encrypting the whole session.