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Storing passwords in iPhone applications

Asked 2009-02-07T11:32:17.930
25

I have a simple application, based of the "Utility Application" template. It retrieves a password-protected XML file (via NSXMLParser).

I want to allow the user to set a username and password in the "FlipsideView", how would I go about this?

I have the basics in place, the two UITextField boxes, the value of which gets set to a fixed value when the view loads (using the viewWillAppear method), and NSLog'd when the view is closed (the NSLog is just for testing, obviously, in the viewWillDisappear method)

How do I store the data? I've had a look at the Developer documentation, and it seems like I should be using NSUserDefaults..?

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2 Answers

9

This is exactly what Apple developed the Keychain for. Using Keychain, you can store your password in encrypted form. Take a look at Apple's GenericKeychain sample.

answered 2009-02-07T12:22:16.817
4

Aha, NSUserDefaults seems to work, and is simple to use, but isn't secure in the slightest:

password is the IBOutlet for the UITextField.

- (void)viewWillAppear:(BOOL)animated
{
    NSUserDefaults *prefs = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
    NSString *pword = [prefs objectForKey:@"password"];
    password.text = uname;
}

- (void)viewWillDisappear:(BOOL)animated{
    NSUserDefaults *prefs = [NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults];
    [prefs setObject:password.text forKey:@"password"];
}

The password is stored in plain-text in a plist, so it would be quite easy for someone else to access.. but this is useful for storing non-sensitive settings.

I ended up using this to store the username field, and stored the password using the SFHFKeychainUtils keychain code from August's answer.

answered 2009-02-07T11:36:26.940

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