Delphi ActiveX

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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var
success: Integer;
ftp: TChilkatFtp2;
password: WideString;
securePassword: TChilkatSecureString;

begin
success := 0;

//  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.

ftp := TChilkatFtp2.Create(Self);

ftp.Hostname := 'ftp.example.com';
ftp.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.
password := 'myPassword';

//  Place the password into a SecureString, which keeps it encrypted in memory.
securePassword := TChilkatSecureString.Create(Self);
securePassword.Append(password);

//  Setting the secure password is equivalent to setting the Password property, but more
//  protective.
success := ftp.SetSecurePassword(securePassword.ControlInterface);
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(ftp.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;

success := ftp.Connect();
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(ftp.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;
Memo1.Lines.Add('Connected using a secure password.');

success := ftp.Disconnect();
if (success = 0) then
  begin
    Memo1.Lines.Add(ftp.LastErrorText);
    Exit;
  end;