If you have SSH access to a UNIX/Linux based system somewhere and want to copy a file located on the server to your computer via SSH, you can use the scp command found in most UNIX/Linux systems, including Mac OS X.

Say you want to copy a file from the remote server to your own computer, a file called my_file.txt. In this case, you would issue the following command in your terminal:

scp your_login@addres.of.remote.server:my_file.txt .

This makes your computer connect to the server with the login you provide, and copy the my_file.txt file to the directory you are currently working (using the exact same file name locally on your computer, that’s why there is a dot in the end of the command).