SSH server and client on the same PC

[DextrousDave]

Hi All

I want all incoming and outgoing data from my PC to be more secure, so I
I want to set up an SSH server on my Home PC using Cygwin, but I also want the SSH client to be on my PC. Is this possible, or do I need to have an external/second PC to act as the server? Also, if all my internet traffic goes through this SSH server, how will it affect my normal browsing? Will I have issues connecting to my regular websites (youtube, facebook, msn, yahoo, gmail, etc etc)?

Thank you

 

[logicearth]

Umm...that is not going to make anything more or less secure. SSH is for creating secure connections to remote systems. (Mainly for administrating) It creates a VPN in a way. It does not make your browser usage secure. Connecting to an SSH server on the local machine is pointless anyways. You are already on the local machine!

 

[DextrousDave]

ok thanks, I thought that the SSH server encrypts data and sends it over the internet, using secure ports, making your internet sessions more secure, but your answer makes more sense. Appreciate your answer. thanks.

 

[DextrousDave]

Umm...that is not going to make anything more or less secure. SSH is for creating secure connections to remote systems. (Mainly for administrating)

One more thing: Let's say I am in a public WiFi hotspot, and I connect to my SSH server located elsewhere, I can use that SSH server as a proxy server in my browser, so any browser traffic(packets) between my client PC on the public WiFi and the SSH server will be secure right? And also, I assume that setting up such a remote secure connection is basically the same as Windows native remote desktop connection?

 

[Alejandro85]

Umm...that is not going to make anything more or less secure. SSH is for creating secure connections to remote systems. (Mainly for administrating)

One more thing: Let's say I am in a public WiFi hotspot, and I connect to my SSH server located elsewhere, I can use that SSH server as a proxy server in my browser, so any browser traffic(packets) between my client PC on the public WiFi and the SSH server will be secure right? And also, I assume that setting up such a remote secure connection is basically the same as Windows native remote desktop connection?

Yes, it's a good idea to use such a setup. In fact, all the WiFi traffic goes encrypted this way, and then from the server to the web, unencrypted (you can't really avoid that unless using sites with HTTPS only).
It has nothing to do with the normal remote desktop. SSH is all about opening a remote command window in the server, SFTP and port forwarding (you'll be using the latter), but not a full control of the remote server. You can forward the port that terminal server uses (3389) to gain access in addition to the web proxy, but it's a whole different history. Also, the SSH protocol is specifically designed to be highly secure and with a very strong encryption, opposed to the remote desktop that has a relatively basic one in comparison.