diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 484cef6..3be4947 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ in your `$PATH`. The tool is installed on `os-login.lsdf.kit.edu` or can be
 obtained from [here](https://lftp.yar.ru/).
 
 In order to minimize password inputs, the bwda sftp server can be
-configured in `~/.netrc` in the following way.
+configured in `~/.netrc` in the following way. Do not forget to restrict file 
+permissions to this file (```chmod 600 ~/.netrc```) as it contains your password 
+in clear text.
 ```text
 ~/.netrc
 ---
@@ -17,6 +19,9 @@ machine archive-sftp.lsdf.kit.edu
 login <xyz>
 password <password>
 ```
+If you feel uncomfortable doing this, an alternative is to ask the 
+staff at bwDataArchive to install your ssh key, as we do not have the 
+permissions to do so ourselves.
 
 The tools included in this package require further machine-specific 
 configurations to determine the path on bwda automatically. This is