Backup MySQL and it's password

[Basher52]

I've created cron jobs for this and it sure works, but now I've heard it's better to move the password in that file to another file and instead of wring the password in the cron script point to this separate file.
Why is that more secure?
They say, you can make that file non readable to non root users.
I say, so... I can do that with the cron script file too.

I don't get it? What's the difference?

[Void Main]

It's generally not a good idea to pass a password as a parameter as it will show up in a process list (ps). Reading it from a file solves that problem.

[Basher52]

Oh, didn't think of that
I just tried to see if a "normal" user could use 'ps' and they can which I think is weird cos why does a normal user needs to do that!!!(?)
Maybe see his OWN processes yes but everything... that's weird as I think.

[Void Main]

That's the way it's been from the beginning of time (UNIX time that is). :)