We will see how to encrypt information in PHP in order to store and exchange it safely. But first, we’ll do a little reminder on symmetric cryptography.
Encryption is an operation which is to alter the information to make it unreadable, but reversibly only to a specific person, who is able to decrypt that information by restoring its original form.
How did you decrypt and therefore access this information?
The answer is simple: when encrypts the information, we will use an encryption key. And this encryption key also allows you to do the opposite: to do decrypt the information.
After this little essential reminder on cryptography, we will be able to attack the practice.
We’ll see how encrypt and decrypt with the algorithm Rijndael , which is used for standard AES, thanks to the bookstore libmcrypt .
To do this properly, we will put everything in a class that will serve as a “Namespace” (although it is not object oriented programming because all the members are static)
<?php class Chiffrement { private static $cipher = MCRYPT_RIJNDAEL_128; // Algorithm used for the encryption blocks private static $key = 'use a encryption key you like'; // Encryption Key private static $mode = 'cbc'; // Procedure (processing blocks) public static function crypt($data){ $keyHash = md5(self::$key); $key = substr($keyHash, 0, mcrypt_get_key_size(self::$cipher, self::$mode) ); $iv = substr($keyHash, 0, mcrypt_get_block_size(self::$cipher, self::$mode) ); $data = mcrypt_encrypt(self::$cipher, $key, $data, self::$mode, $iv); return base64_encode($data); } public static function decrypt($data){ $keyHash = md5(self::$key); $key = substr($keyHash, 0, mcrypt_get_key_size(self::$cipher, self::$mode) ); $iv = substr($keyHash, 0, mcrypt_get_block_size(self::$cipher, self::$mode) ); $data = base64_decode($data); $data = mcrypt_decrypt(self::$cipher, $key, $data, self::$mode, $iv); return rtrim($data); } } ?>
And this is how it is used:
<?php $clair = "Salut !"; $crypt = Chiffrement::crypt($clair); $decrypt = Chiffrement::decrypt($crypt); ?> <pre> clair : <?php echo $clair; ?> crypt : <?php echo $crypt; ?> raw crypt : <?php echo base64_decode($crypt); ?> decrypt : <?php echo $decrypt; ?> </pre>
The operation is very simple: to encrypt and decrypt with mcrypt, just use the functions mcrypt_encrypt
and mcrypt_decrypt
.
My these functions take a lot of parameters, which are most always the same for encryption and decryption, except $data
of course (which contains the variable to encrypt).
So far pooling all in static variables within a class:
a7af2934b9c8ca2e346314bea5cf3a8f
a string is used much easier to remember, making office word password .md5
in this case. You have to choose your password features, and it must remain secretAlso, I used functions base64_encode
and base64_decode
to “encapsulate” the encrypted data (and same for decrypt, inevitably, since it is the reciprocal). It is not mandatory, and it is by no means an additional security measure. This is just to avoid encoding problems (character) because special characters. Base64 produces character strings that only use 64 ASCII characters that are compatible with all charset (latin1, utf8 …).
It avoids trashing the encrypted data by storing it in a mysql database or a mismatched file.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Question 1.
The password_verify() function is designed to compare and verify if a password matches a previously generated hash. By utilizing this function, you can determine whether a provided password is correct or not. The function returns a boolean value of true if the password and hash match, indicating that the provided password is valid. Conversely, if the password and hash do not match, the function returns false, indicating that the provided password is incorrect. This provides a secure and reliable method for password authentication and verification.
Question 2.
The syntax of the password_verify() function is as follows:
bool password_verify(string $password, string $hash)
The password_verify() function takes in two parameters: $password
and $hash
. The $password
parameter represents the password that needs to be verified, while the $hash
parameter represents the hashed version of the password.
This function is used to verify whether the given hash matches the given password. It is typically used to compare a user-entered password with its corresponding hashed version stored in a database, for authentication purposes.
If the password and the hash match, the function will return true. On the other hand, if they do not match, the function will return false.
To use this function, simply pass the password and the corresponding hash to it, and then evaluate the return value to determine whether the password is valid or not.
Question 3.
To decrypt a password hash in PHP, you can use the password_verify() function. This function takes two arguments: the password in plaintext form and the hashed password you want to compare it with. Here are the steps to decrypt a password hash:
$unencrypted_password = "Cloudways@123";
$hash = "2y10D6pwJsA5KKdUs7tlrIC3z.we7QZR58wx9gEiuLlQ/dr7E/Rtnj9Ce";
$verify = password_verify($unencrypted_password, $hash);
if ($verify) {echo 'Correct Password!';} else {echo 'Password is Incorrect';}
By following these steps, you can successfully decrypt a password hash in PHP using the password_verify() function.
Question 4.
The generated hash code is a secure alphanumeric string that consists of both upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and possibly special characters. In this particular case, the generated hash code is “2y10D6pwJsA5KKdUs7tlrIC3z.we7QZR58wx9gEiuLlQ/dr7E/Rtnj9Ce”.
Question 5.
To encrypt and decrypt passwords using PHP, one effective approach is to utilize the password_hash and password_verify functions. These functions provide a convenient and secure way to safeguard passwords. Here is an explanation of how to implement this:
By following this approach, passwords are securely encrypted and can be easily verified during the login process. It is important to note that the password_hash function automatically includes a random salt, which enhances security by making each hash unique. Additionally, this process eliminates the need for a separate decryption step, as passwords are stored in a one-way hash format that cannot be reversed.
Question 6.
MySQL encrypts PHP passwords by using a hashing function called Password(). When creating a new user account with the CREATE USER command, MySQL takes the provided password (IDENTIFIED BY) and internally applies the Password() function to generate a hashed value. This hashed value is stored in the MySQL database, rather than the actual plaintext password.
However, it is worth noting that the Password() function in MySQL is considered to be relatively weaker in terms of encryption. The MySQL documentation itself recommends using alternative encryption methods, such as SHA1 or Hash(), as they provide stronger encryption. Additionally, a random salt per password is suggested to further enhance security and prevent the creation of precomputed rainbow tables based on common salts.
In summary, while MySQL does provide password encryption through the Password() function, using stronger methods like SHA1 or Hash(), along with random salts, is recommended for greater security when encrypting PHP passwords in MySQL.
Question 7.
PHP encryption is of utmost importance for data protection due to the significant role it plays in safeguarding sensitive information. In today’s digital age, where personal and business data is commonly stored on cloud servers, the need for robust encryption has become paramount.
One primary reason for prioritizing PHP encryption is the ability to securely protect data that should remain inaccessible to unauthorized individuals. By utilizing encryption techniques, sensitive information can be encoded and transformed into an unreadable format, ensuring that even if it falls into the wrong hands, it remains useless and indecipherable.
For businesses, the repercussions of inadequate encryption can be quite severe. A breach in the security of classified business data can inflict substantial damage, providing competitors with an unfair advantage. Additionally, the leakage of customers’ information extends beyond a mere public relations nightmare. It can result in legal actions and even the dissolution of a company. Consequently, a PHP application that lacks proper encryption measures puts both the organization and its stakeholders at risk.
Effective PHP encryption involves implementing tough-to-crack password encryption. This additional layer of protection ensures that even if an unauthorized individual gains access to encrypted data, they would still require the correct password or key to decrypt it. Consequently, this serves as a vital security feature that customers expect from any PHP application.
In conclusion, the significance of PHP encryption for data protection cannot be overstated. It allows businesses and individuals to secure their sensitive information, especially in the era where cloud storage has become prevalent. Failure to implement proper encryption measures can result in severe consequences such as financial losses, lawsuits, and reputational damage. Thus, prioritizing PHP encryption is essential in safeguarding data and maintaining the trust of customers and stakeholders.
comments
If you’re ready to take control of your organization’s data by setting up a private… Read More
Building a private cloud involves creating a virtualized environment where you can manage, store, and… Read More
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, Flex AI stands as a transformative force,… Read More
Apple is set to once again make waves in the smartphone market with the iPhone… Read More
Act quickly! The sooner you take action, the better your chances of saving your water… Read More
Introduction The electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow rapidly, driven by technological advancements and… Read More
This website uses cookies.