CkPython

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 sys
import chilkat

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.

ftp = chilkat.CkFtp2()

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.
password = "myPassword"

#  Place the password into a SecureString, which keeps it encrypted in memory.
securePassword = chilkat.CkSecureString()
securePassword.Append(password)

#  Setting the secure password is equivalent to setting the Password property, but more
#  protective.
success = ftp.SetSecurePassword(securePassword)
if (success == False):
    print(ftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

success = ftp.Connect()
if (success == False):
    print(ftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

print("Connected using a secure password.")

success = ftp.Disconnect()
if (success == False):
    print(ftp.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()