PuTTY is a popular choice for a Windows SSH client. It is reliable, easy to use and free (open source).

In this article we will describe a very basic PuTTY usage for larger audience. If you are a SiteGround customer, check the links below for specific information on how to connect to your account via SSH:

How to log in to my SiteGround shared account via SSH using PuTTY

How to log in to my VPS via SSH using PuTTY

How to log in to my dedicated server via SSH using PuTTY
 

Here are the general steps you need to take to use PuTTY:

1. Install PuTTY and run it.

2. Specify the hostname or IP address for your server and hit 'open' to initiate the connection. You can leave all options to default. If this is the first time to connect to the server, you will have to accept its SSH certificate.

3. Specify root (if you are the administrator for this server) or your username.

4. Specify your password.

The above steps would allow you to log in an SSH server with a default setup. However, it is very insecure and your host is exposed to serious risks.

To make it more secure we at Siteground have made additional tweaks such as changing the default SSH port, substituting password authorization with keys and many others.

Thus, if you are looking for a secure and reliable host, you can check our SSH hosting plan.