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From: xtdn@levels.sait.edu.au
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: Is it possible to hide process args from 'ps -ef'??
Message-ID: <16225.280f83b0@levels.sait.edu.au>
Date: 19 Apr 91 14:26:32 GMT
References: <1414@compel.UUCP>
Organization: University of South Australia
Lines: 24

her@compel.UUCP (Helge Egelund Rasmussen) writes:
> It is possible to give Oracle programs the username/password on the
> command line, ie :
...
> Is it possible to hide the arguments, so that they won't show up in
> the 'ps' output

What you want to do is not good.  Sure you might be able to write something
which accepts command line arguments, hides them and then calls Oracle; but
there will always be a window of time between when your program is started
and when it zaps its arguments.  During that window, the arguments will be
available for all* to see.

I think you should re-evaluate your need to use command arguments.


* Mind you, systems, such as SCO Unix, which have C2 security, don't show
  processes belonging to other users (unless you have the appropriate
  permission).  Not that I'm advocating a switch to C2 Unix.


David Newall, who no longer works       Phone:  +61 8 344 2008
for SA Institute of Technology          E-mail: xtdn@lux.sait.edu.au
                "Life is uncertain:  Eat dessert first"