Linux › Module 4 › Lesson 3
wget, curl, ssh
Download files with wget and curl, and manage servers with SSH
Opening
The three tools that connect Linux to the world
wget and curl pull data from the web—scripts, updates, API responses. ssh lets you log into remote Linux boxes securely. Together they are how real admins and hackers move across networks (legally, with permission).
1. wget — Simple Downloads
Download a file: wget https://example.com/file.zip Recursive mirror (use carefully—respect robots.txt and law): wget -r -l 1 https://example.com/docs/
2. curl — Swiss Army Client
Fetch a page to terminal: curl https://cyberlium.com Show response headers: curl -I https://cyberlium.com POST JSON (APIs): curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"key":"val"}' https://api.example.com
3. ssh — Secure Remote Shell
Connect to a remote server: ssh [email protected] ssh -p 2222 user@host — custom port Uses encryption (SSH protocol). Keys live in ~/.ssh/id_rsa (private) and id_rsa.pub (public). Never share your private key.
Legal line
Only ssh, wget, and curl against systems you own or have written permission to test. Unauthorized access is a crime—not a learning exercise.
Knowledge Check
ssh provides:
Multiple choice
Knowledge Check
curl -I is commonly used to:
Multiple choice
Knowledge Check
Where should your SSH private key stay?
Multiple choice