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Using Asymmetric Encryption and Digital Signatures in a SQL Server 2005 Database
In this article we start with a look at the T-SQL commands for performing asymmetric encryption and decryption. Next, we discuss using digital signatures as a means for ensuring the integrity of the encrypted data. This article concludes with an ASP.NET 2.0 website example that ties together the lessons learned throughout this article series. Specifically, the database used by this ASP.NET application stores customer information with the customer's credit card information encrypted. An ASP.NET page provides a means to view the sensitive information in plaintext as well as a means to add new customers to the database with the credit card information properly encrypted.
Get info about local digital certificates with WSE 2.0 and .NET
Using Symmetric Encryption in a SQL Server 2005 Database
As the attacks in which hackers use become more and more sophisticated, and the programs in which they attack become increasingly complex, encryption is becoming the last line of defense in database management system (DBMS) security.
In this article we will look at how, specifically, to encrypt the data in a SQL Server 2005 database using symmetric encryption techniques. We'll start with examining the facilities for managing keys in SQL Server and then explore symmetric encryption in SQL Server 2005.
An Overview of Cryptographic Systems and Encrypting Database Data
As the attacks in which hackers use become more and more sophisticated, and the programs in which they attack become increasingly complex, encryption is becoming the last line of defense in database management system (DBMS) security. Since Microsoft announced their Trustworthy Computing security initiatives four years ago, the industry has been waiting to see how these initiatives would be implemented in upcoming products. With the introduction of Microsoft's newest DBMS, SQL Server 2005, it does indeed seem as though they have provided what they have promised.
What follows is a two-part article series that provides an in-depth examination of encrypting data in SQL Server 2005. In this article we will exploring key challenges facing database systems and the motivations for providing robust encryption mechanisms directly within the database system. We will also look at encryption fundamentals and SQL Server 2005's encryption capabilities.
.NET Encryption Simplified
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Validating ASP.NET Query Strings
Starting with version 1.1, ASP.NET preprocesses any posted data (forms and query string), looking for suspicious combinations of characters that may be exploited by XSS attackers. But this barrier is not a silver bullet and you have to take responsibility. If your pages use query string parameters, you need to ensure that they are properly validated before use. How do you do that?
In this column, I build an HTTP module that reads an XML file where you have hardcoded the expected structure of the query string. The module then validates the query string of any requested page against the given schema. And you don't need to touch the code of any page.

