In our previous article, “Mastering Authentication in.NET: Part 1 — An Introduction to Encryption Algorithms,” we gave an overview of authentication and its crucial role in securing applications. We explained the two primary encryption algorithms: symmetric (AES and DES) and asymmetric (RSA and ECC). These algorithms are essential in maintaining data confidentiality and integrity during transmission between users and systems.
1.2. Objective of Part 2
In this second installment of our series on mastering authentication in .NET, we will focus on secure hashing techniques for passwords. Hashing algorithms are essential to secure authentication, as they help protect sensitive information such as user passwords from unauthorized access. This blog post will explore the differences between hashing and encryption, introduce popular hashing algorithms like SHA-256 and bcrypt, and discuss the concept of salting hashes for added security. Our goal is to provide you with a solid understanding of hashing algorithms and how they can be implemented in your .NET applications to enhance security and protect user data.
2.1. The Need for Hashing in Authentication
Hashing algorithms play an important role in secure authentication systems. Instead of saving passwords in plaintext or employing encryption, hashing algorithms produce a fixed-length, unique representation of the input data (e.g., a password). This one-of-a-kind representation, known as a hash, is difficult to reverse-engineer, making it a safe way to store and compare passwords.
When a user enters their password during authentication, the system hashes it and compares it to the stored hash of the original password. The user gains access if the…
I'm a cybersecurity enthusiast with a deep understanding of authentication mechanisms, encryption algorithms, and secure coding practices. My expertise is grounded in hands-on experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article you provided:
Recap of Part 1
The first part of the series introduced authentication and highlighted its pivotal role in securing applications. The focus was on encryption algorithms, specifically symmetric (AES and DES) and asymmetric (RSA and ECC). These algorithms ensure data confidentiality and integrity during transmission between users and systems.
Objective of Part 2
In the second installment, the article shifts its focus to secure hashing techniques for passwords. Hashing is crucial for protecting sensitive information like user passwords from unauthorized access. The goal is to explore the distinctions between hashing and encryption, introduce popular hashing algorithms such as SHA-256 and bcrypt, and discuss the concept of salting hashes for added security.
The Need for Hashing in Authentication
Hashing algorithms are essential in secure authentication systems. Instead of storing passwords in plaintext or using encryption, hashing generates a fixed-length, unique representation (hash) of the input data (e.g., a password). This hash is challenging to reverse-engineer, providing a secure method to store and compare passwords. During authentication, when a user enters their password, the system hashes it and compares it to the stored hash of the original password. Access is granted if there's a match.
The article emphasizes the importance of hashing in securing authentication systems, underlining its role in safeguarding sensitive user data. It also introduces readers to specific hashing algorithms like SHA-256 and bcrypt, demonstrating a commitment to providing practical insights for implementing robust security measures in .NET applications.
In C#, developers often use cryptographic hash functions like SHA-256 or bcrypt for this purpose. The resulting hash is unique to each password, making it infeasible for attackers to reverse the process and retrieve the original password.
Let's look at the SHA-2 algorithm as an example (the SHA256 version specifically). SHA256 is a very popular hashing algorithm and was and is extremely common in password management. The algorithm itself is considered secure — it is impossible to reverse the encryption, so that's not the issue.
How does password hashing work? Password hashing turns your password (or any other piece of data) into a short string of letters and/or numbers using an encryption algorithm. If a website is hacked, password hashing helps prevent cybercriminals from getting access to your passwords.
xxHash is an Extremely fast Hash algorithm, running at RAM speed limits. It successfully completes the SMHasher test suite which evaluates collision, dispersion and randomness qualities of hash functions.
Use SecureString or a byte[] instead and remember to dispose or zero them as soon as the password is no longer needed. I wanted to encrypt and decrypt the string as a readable string. Here is a very simple quick example in C# Visual Studio 2019 WinForms based on the answer from @Pradip .
To protect passwords, experts suggest using a strong and slow hashing algorithm like Argon2 or Bcrypt, combined with salt (or even better, with salt and pepper). (Basically, avoid faster algorithms for this usage.) To verify file signatures and certificates, SHA-256 is among your best hashing algorithm choices.
What's the Most Secure Hashing Algorithm? SHA-256. SHA-256 (secure hash algorithm) is an algorithm that takes an input of any length and uses it to create a 256-bit fixed-length hash value.
Password salting is a technique to protect passwords stored in databases by adding a string of 32 or more characters and then hashing them. Salting prevents hackers who breach an enterprise environment from reverse-engineering passwords and stealing them from the database.
Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) provides security by coding the user's password with an MD5 hash algorithm of a value that both the client and server can construct.
When selecting a hashing algorithm, security is the most critical factor to consider. An algorithm must be secure enough to prevent attackers from reversing the hash and obtaining the original data. The security of a hashing algorithm can be evaluated based on its resistance to collisions and pre-image attacks.
SHA-2. SHA-2 is a family of hash functions widely employed for password encryption and other security applications due to their high level of security. ...
Hashing and encryption can keep sensitive data safe, but in almost all circ*mstances, passwords should be hashed, NOT encrypted. Because hashing is a one-way function (i.e., it is impossible to "decrypt" a hash and obtain the original plaintext value), it is the most appropriate approach for password validation.
Just as with brute forcing, if an attacker already has password hashes, they can use dictionary attacks to try and find a matching password offline. In many cases, this will be far quicker than brute forcing the password, and it allows attackers to circumvent any security mechanisms that may be in place.
For example, the SHA256 hash of "12345" is "5994471abb01112afcc18159f6cc74b4f511b99806da59b3caf5a9c173cacfc5" . If this hash is seen in a database, we know that the user's password is "12345" 2. In fact, there is an entire database of precomputed hashes which can be checked against.
SHA256 has several advantages over MD5 and SHA-1, such as producing a longer hash (256 bits) that is more resistant to collisions and brute-force attacks. Additionally, there are no known vulnerabilities or weaknesses with SHA256, unlike MD5 and SHA-1 which have been exploited by hackers and researchers.
Another important detail is that SHA256 hashes don't include the salt element, which makes them more susceptible to dictionary-based cyberattacks. So while SHA256 is more suitable for applications that require frequent interaction, bcrypt is a better solution for safely storing passwords.
SHA-256 is one of the hashing algorithms that's part of the SHA-2 family (patented under a royalty-free U.S. patent 6829355). It's the most widely used and best hashing algorithm, often in conjunction with digital signatures, for: Authentication and encryption protocols, like TLS, SSL, SSH, and PGP.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
