plink

Security Concepts

Definition

Plink (PuTTY Link) is a command-line tool that lets you connect from your computer to a remote server over a secure channel (typically SSH), without using a full graphical interface. It is part of the family of tools associated with PuTTY. ([Ubuntu Manpages][1])

When you use Plink, you open a “remote terminal” session or run commands on a remote machine directly from your own command line. Because it works without a GUI, it is often used for automation, scripting, and remote administration tasks — for example, running maintenance scripts on a server or copying files to/from a machine. ([the.earth.li][2])

**Key Features**

* It supports common network-connection protocols, especially SSH (secure shell). ([Linux Die][3])
* You can use it in non-interactive mode (for scripts or automated tasks) or start an interactive session when needed. ([the.earth.li][2])
* It lets administrators open secure connections, forward ports, tunnel traffic, or execute remote commands directly from a local Windows or Unix shell. ([Documentation Help][4])

**Why it matters (especially in security / operations)**

* Because Plink enables remote, scriptable, and secure access, attackers or defenders alike can use it to manage servers, copy tools or malware, or establish tunnels for data exfiltration or command-and-control. ([Splunk Security Content][5])
* In a secure operations context, monitoring or logging use of Plink (and especially its port-forwarding or tunneling flags) can help detect suspicious or unauthorized access or lateral movement within a network. ([Splunk Security Content][5])

**Simple Example**
From a Windows command prompt you might run:

```
plink user@remote-server.example.com -pw MySecurePassword
```

This would open a secure shell on the remote server, letting you run commands as if you were logged in directly — but without a graphical interface.

plink

Definition

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