What option in inputs.conf helps safeguard run-user credentials for scripted inputs?

The correct choice focuses on the safeguarding of run-user credentials for scripted inputs in Splunk. Specifically, passAuth is used to manage authentication credentials that are needed for data collection when utilizing scripted inputs. It allows you to securely store and retrieve authentication tokens or passwords needed to ensure that the scripts can run successfully without needing to expose sensitive information.

Using passAuth allows Splunk to handle the authentication in a safer manner, ensuring that the credentials are not hard-coded within the script itself, which could lead to potential security vulnerabilities. This mechanism promotes best practices for credential management and is particularly important in environments where security compliance and data secrecy are critical.

The other options either do not exist in the context of inputs.conf to safeguard credentials or provide functionalities that do not directly relate to the management and security of run-user specifics for scripted inputs. This makes passAuth the most appropriate choice for securing those credentials while maintaining the necessary functionality for data ingestion.