interacting with shell - another newbie question

[James Stroud]

Tina I wrote:
> James wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I work in this annoying company where I have to autheticate myself to
>> the company firewall every 30-50 minutes in order to access the
>> internet.  (I think it's a checkpoint fw).
>>
>> I have to run "telnet what.ever.ip.address 259" then it prompts me
>> with userid, then password, then I have to select "1".  Then the
>> program closes itself and the internet is enabled.
>>
>> I would like to automate this process with Python and run it every 30
>> miniutes so I don't have to keep typing in these userid/password
>> everytime.  How can this be done?  Is there a module I can use to
>> interact with the shell? (I'm running linux)
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>> James
>>
> Sounds like the perfect way to get fired. To be sure though, remember to 
> store your password in clear text ;)
> However bizarre the security measures seem it's obviously in place to 
> make sure it's *you* sitting at the computer. Scripting the 
> authentication process is equal to simply removing it.

Yes, and finding ways to have employees pointlessly waste time is equal 
to simply removing them.