Question

I want to use triple DES in C# for encryption/decryption of (utf8) strings with a (utf8) key of any length.

I am looking for these three functions

public static string Encrypt(string data, string key)
{
    ...
}

public static string Decrypt(string data, string key)
{
    ...
}

public static string GenerateKeyFromString(string str)
{
    ...
}

Note: Before anyone links to it, the http://www.geekzilla.co.uk/view7B360BD8-A77C-4F1F-BCA0-ACD0F6795F61.htm implementation does not work, I have thoroughly tested it.

I have done lots of searching and found bits of the problem like EncryptOneBlock and others but I am looking for a complete ‘for dummies’ implementation which I think would be useful for others too.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Complete source here: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/14150/Encrypt-and-Decrypt-Data-with-C

Encrypt:

public static string Encrypt(string toEncrypt, bool useHashing)
{
    byte[] keyArray;
    byte[] toEncryptArray = UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(toEncrypt);

    System.Configuration.AppSettingsReader settingsReader = 
                                        new AppSettingsReader();
    // Get the key from config file

    string key = (string)settingsReader.GetValue("SecurityKey", 
                                                     typeof(String));
    //System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(key);
    //If hashing use get hashcode regards to your key
    if (useHashing)
    {
        MD5CryptoServiceProvider hashmd5 = new MD5CryptoServiceProvider();
        keyArray = hashmd5.ComputeHash(UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(key));
        //Always release the resources and flush data
        // of the Cryptographic service provide. Best Practice

        hashmd5.Clear();
    }
    else
        keyArray = UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(key);

    TripleDESCryptoServiceProvider tdes = new TripleDESCryptoServiceProvider();
    //set the secret key for the tripleDES algorithm
    tdes.Key = keyArray;
    //mode of operation. there are other 4 modes.
    //We choose ECB(Electronic code Book)
    tdes.Mode = CipherMode.ECB;
    //padding mode(if any extra byte added)

    tdes.Padding = PaddingMode.PKCS7;

    ICryptoTransform cTransform = tdes.CreateEncryptor();
    //transform the specified region of bytes array to resultArray
    byte[] resultArray = 
      cTransform.TransformFinalBlock(toEncryptArray, 0, 
      toEncryptArray.Length);
    //Release resources held by TripleDes Encryptor
    tdes.Clear();
    //Return the encrypted data into unreadable string format
    return Convert.ToBase64String(resultArray, 0, resultArray.Length);
}

Decrypt:

public static string Decrypt(string cipherString, bool useHashing)
{
    byte[] keyArray;
    //get the byte code of the string

    byte[] toEncryptArray = Convert.FromBase64String(cipherString);

    System.Configuration.AppSettingsReader settingsReader = 
                                        new AppSettingsReader();
    //Get your key from config file to open the lock!
    string key = (string)settingsReader.GetValue("SecurityKey", 
                                                 typeof(String));
            
    if (useHashing)
    {
        //if hashing was used get the hash code with regards to your key
        MD5CryptoServiceProvider hashmd5 = new MD5CryptoServiceProvider();
        keyArray = hashmd5.ComputeHash(UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(key));
        //release any resource held by the MD5CryptoServiceProvider

        hashmd5.Clear();
    }
    else
    {
        //if hashing was not implemented get the byte code of the key
        keyArray = UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(key);
    }

    TripleDESCryptoServiceProvider tdes = new TripleDESCryptoServiceProvider();
    //set the secret key for the tripleDES algorithm
    tdes.Key = keyArray;
    //mode of operation. there are other 4 modes. 
    //We choose ECB(Electronic code Book)

    tdes.Mode = CipherMode.ECB;
    //padding mode(if any extra byte added)
    tdes.Padding = PaddingMode.PKCS7;

    ICryptoTransform cTransform = tdes.CreateDecryptor();
    byte[] resultArray = cTransform.TransformFinalBlock(
                         toDecryptArray, 0, toDecryptArray.Length);
    //Release resources held by TripleDes Encryptor                
    tdes.Clear();
    //return the Clear decrypted TEXT
    return UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetString(resultArray);
}