function Read-HostMasked([string]$prompt="Password") {
  $password = Read-Host -AsSecureString $prompt;  
  $BSTR = [System.Runtime.InteropServices.marshal]::SecureStringToBSTR($password);
  $password = [System.Runtime.InteropServices.marshal]::PtrToStringAuto($BSTR);
  [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::ZeroFreeBSTR($BSTR);
  return $password;
}