Java

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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import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.ChilkatException;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.Ftp2;
import com.chilkatsoft.chilkat2.SecureString;

public class ChilkatExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // 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.

        Ftp2 ftp = new Ftp2();

        ftp.setHostname("ftp.example.com");
        ftp.setUsername("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.
        String password = "myPassword";

        // Place the password into a SecureString, which keeps it encrypted in memory.
        SecureString securePassword = new SecureString();
        securePassword.append(password);

        // Setting the secure password is equivalent to setting the Password property, but more
        // protective.
        try {
            ftp.setSecurePassword(securePassword);

            ftp.connect();
        } catch (ChilkatException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }

        System.out.println("Connected using a secure password.");

        try {
            ftp.disconnect();
        } catch (ChilkatException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getLastErrorText());
            return;
        }
    }
}