powershell - ConvertTo-SecureString: Error occurred during a cryptographic operation - Stack Overflow

When I run a Powershell script using an encrypted password:

$PasswordEncrypted = Get-Content "C:\SecureFolder\FileWithPasswordEncrypted.txt" | ConvertTo-SecureString

I get this error:

ConvertTo-SecureString: Error occurred during a cryptographic operation.

What am I doing wrong?

When I run a Powershell script using an encrypted password:

$PasswordEncrypted = Get-Content "C:\SecureFolder\FileWithPasswordEncrypted.txt" | ConvertTo-SecureString

I get this error:

ConvertTo-SecureString: Error occurred during a cryptographic operation.

What am I doing wrong?

• powershell
• encryption
• passwords

Share Improve this question Follow asked Jan 16 at 13:33 Gerard JaryczewskiGerard Jaryczewski 1,1221414 silver badges2525 bronze badges

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1 Answer 1

Sorted by: Reset to default 2

In this particular case, I am trying to read a secured string from a file made by another user. When such a file with a password is prepared without the –Key or –SecureKey parameters of ConvertTo-SecureString, only the same user account on the same computer will be able to use this encrypted string.

Source: https://www.pdq.com/blog/secure-password-with-powershell-encrypting-credentials-part-1/#convertto-securestring-encrypting-passwords-and-other-strings

A similar topic: ConvertTo-SecureString run without key on different user account, is there a way (with proper credentials) to get this working from a different user?