Secure storage for passwords for admin scripts?

[Christopher A. Craig]

mksql at yahoo.com (Max) writes:

> I have a collection of system admin scripts (on Win 2k) that I would
> like to automate the execution of. However, some of them require the
> use of logins with admin rights, and would therefore prefer not to
> store the IDs in the clear text of the source. If memory serves
> correctly, the "compiled" .pyc files do not provide much security in
> this area.
> 
> Are there are recommended methods for supplying scripts with login
> information in a secure fashion?

You cannot store passwords in a secure fashion and extract them
automatically.  If there is an algorithm for extracting them (and
worse the algorithm is in the script) then they aren't secure.

-- 
Christopher A. Craig <com-nospam at ccraig.org>
"The problem with X is that it's overadequate" Dennis Ritchie