C++

Set the FTP Password from a SecureString

Demonstrates the Chilkat Ftp2.SetSecurePassword method, which sets the login password from a SecureString. The only argument is the SecureString. It is equivalent to setting the Password property but avoids holding the password as an ordinary immutable string.

Background: An ordinary string password can linger in memory (and in memory dumps) because strings are immutable and copied freely. A SecureString keeps the value encrypted under a session key and clears it deterministically, reducing that exposure — a sensible upgrade for a credential the process holds for the life of the connection. Populate it from a runtime source rather than a hard-coded literal.

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C++

#include <CkFtp2.h>
#include <CkSecureString.h>

void ChilkatSample(void)
    {
    bool success = false;

    //  Demonstrates the Ftp2.SetSecurePassword method, which sets the login password from a
    //  SecureString.  The only argument is the SecureString.  This avoids holding the password as an
    //  ordinary immutable string.

    CkFtp2 ftp;

    ftp.put_Hostname("ftp.example.com");
    ftp.put_Username("myFtpLogin");

    //  Normally you would not hard-code the password in source.  You should instead obtain it
    //  from an interactive prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
    const char *password = "myPassword";

    //  Place the password into a SecureString, which keeps it encrypted in memory.
    CkSecureString securePassword;
    securePassword.Append(password);

    //  Setting the secure password is equivalent to setting the Password property, but more
    //  protective.
    success = ftp.SetSecurePassword(securePassword);
    if (success == false) {
        std::cout << ftp.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }

    success = ftp.Connect();
    if (success == false) {
        std::cout << ftp.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }

    std::cout << "Connected using a secure password." << "\r\n";

    success = ftp.Disconnect();
    if (success == false) {
        std::cout << ftp.lastErrorText() << "\r\n";
        return;
    }
    }