Where should I keep my passwords?

[Matthew Roth]

Where should I keep my user names and passwords? This is for an application that will not be connected to a server. I convert my passwords using the message digest. I would like to place them into a database, and the only one I have is Access. Can java open an MS Access database without Access being installed on the user's computer?
The user will have to log in to my program with a password. I'm trying to figure out where the best place is to place the username and password. I thought I could place it into an Access database and then include that with the program when I distribute it.
I didn't think a text file would be the best place for username and passwords. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: Matthew Roth ]

[Michael Ernest]

Hi Matthew -
I'm going to move this over to one of our newer topics, General Computing. I think it makes more sense there.

[Shriram Shivakumar]

If you are using Java, the better place to store username/passwords is in a property file.