If you are in a UNIX environment and need a quick and secure way to copy files I suggest using scp from the command-line. SSH and OpenSSH provide the scp application, which allows you to connect and transfer files on servers running an encrypted FTP service. (ssh daemon)
If you are looking for an X windows GUI application, you may want to try out gFTP
Here is how scp works: (Note the use of periods; they are essential!!)
To copy a file from hostB to hostA, while logged in to hostB:
Copies file to user's home dir on hostA machine, because of the period after the colon
scp filename username@hostA.com:.
To copy a folder from hostB to hostA, while logged in to hostB first cd to the directory on HostB which contains the folder you want to copy:
Creates new folder if the folder does not exist, again in user's home directory
scp -r folder username@hostA.com:.
To copy a file from hostA to hostB, while logged in to hostB:
Copies into current directory on hostB
scp username@hostA.com:filename .
Copies whole folder into current directory on hostB
scp -r username@hostA.com:folder .
To copy a file or folder within a folder from hostA to hostB, while logged in to hostB:
Copies into current directory on hostB
scp username@hostA.com:/folder/dir/filename .
Copies whole folder into current directory on hostB
scp -r username@hostA.com:/folder/dir .
Instead of using the '.' to designate files to be copied to a home directory or the current working directory you can give scp an actual path (assuming you have write permissions):
scp -r folder username@hostA:/home/httpd/
scp username@hostA.com:/folder/dir/filename /home/tmp/