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[Discuss] Passwords in Source Code?? Or, How to secure interprocess communications?



This is a common problem and there are some common guidelines that allow
you to run your program almost anywhere.

Store your passwords in an external file.
The passwords must be encrypted using at least 1024 bit encryption with
some sort of salt. AES is probably your best bet.
The file must be readable *only* by the administrator.
Do NOT roll your own encryption, use openssl.


> Related to my previous database questions...
>
> Normally I think of a program as trusting itself, having some integrity,
> maybe not even having gaping bugs or security holes. But what if I the
> program I am writing is talking to another, such as Postgres? Postgres
> has the ability to do passwords, so do I just put a password in my
> program source? Set Postgres to only accept local connections, and hope
> for the best? Seems wrong. Do I try to put both in a chroot or something?
>
> My program already has to hope that its program files are secured by the
> hosting OS, but at least if it isn't opening up a network port it stays
> a rather contained problem.
>
> (I want multiple programs talking to the database, so no, I can't just
> link in Sqlite.)
>
> Seems a general problem of securing interprocess communications.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -kb, the Kent who knows that people Google for passwords, search github
> for passwords, and get a lot of juicy results.
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> Discuss at blu.org
> http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>





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