Visual Basic 6.0

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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Visual Basic 6.0

Dim success As Long
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.

Dim ftp As New ChilkatFtp2

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.
Dim password As String
password = "myPassword"

'  Place the password into a SecureString, which keeps it encrypted in memory.
Dim securePassword As New ChilkatSecureString
success = securePassword.Append(password)

'  Setting the secure password is equivalent to setting the Password property, but more
'  protective.
success = ftp.SetSecurePassword(securePassword)
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print ftp.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

success = ftp.Connect()
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print ftp.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.Print "Connected using a secure password."

success = ftp.Disconnect()
If (success = 0) Then
    Debug.Print ftp.LastErrorText
    Exit Sub
End If