Loading...
Finger Protocol
The Finger Protocol is a legacy network service designed to provide information about users on a remote system. It allows clients to retrieve details such as usernames, full names, login time, and idle status. Originally created in the early days of the internet, it facilitated social interaction and user lookup across UNIX networked hosts..
The Finger Protocol, standardized in RFC 742 and later updated by RFC 1288, operates primarily over TCP port 79. A client initiates a connection to the Finger daemon (fingerd) on a remote machine and sends a query string, typically a username or left blank to receive information about all logged-in users. The server responds with user details stored in the system files, such as .plan, .project, and login details.
Initially designed for simplicity, the protocol does not require authentication or session management. Its command format is plain text, making it extremely lightweight. Despite its age, the protocol remains well-understood and trivial to implement, though obsolete in most production systems today due to privacy and security concerns.
Historically, its biggest appeal was social — users could publish status updates via .plan files or check the presence of collaborators remotely. This predates modern social networks and messaging systems, highlighting its role in early networked communication.