blocking ftp through internet browser

[imsoparanoid]

is it possible to block connections coming through an internet browser and pretty much force a user to connect using an FTP client? if so, how can it be done?

[neoxed]

No, you can't. Internet browsers that can access FTP servers ARE FTP clients. There is no reliable way to differentiate between the two (e.g. CLNT command, which isn't supported by ioFTPD).

[MxxCon]

if you are really set on blocking browsers, you can monitor connection behaviour of a given client and spot browsers.
both IE and FireFox have pretty unique login command sequence. for example IE is sending a command to enable unicode.
also by default browsers try to connect using anon/anon info, disabling that should stop most browsers

[neoxed]

You can’t hook commands that ioFTPD doesn't support. So writing a script to kick users if they send the "OPTS UTF8 ON" (Internet Explorer) command is out of question. ;)