Use of cryptography in a C# program-Storing user credential

[dseaver]

I am programming an open source project in my spare time that syncs WinMo 5 with my google calendar (I know there are products out there, I just want to challenge myself and code my own). So far, I store some of the basic information in an XML file, but I have decided not to store the user's password in that file since it would be stored in plain text. What type of set up would I need to encrypt this file? If I create one encryption key and hard code it, a person would just need to access this code in the source to be able to open up the other file to get to the password. Should I just have it so the user enters the password when the open the program or try to encrypt the data?

 

[AlexCuse]

You may find this useful:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/mobile/teaencryption.aspx

I didn't read the whole thing, but I imagine you could store an encrypted password in your settings file (not supported as in the regular framework, but there is this which it sounds like you may have already read:

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/mobile/SaveSettings.aspx)

, and require something like a pin number to decrypt it. I know it sounds a bit silly, but I need to slide my phone open to get to the full keyboard, so being able to enter just numbers would be very convenient for me.

Let me know how you get on with this, I've been meaning to learn more about the compact framework, but struggling to decide what to use as a vehicle.

[small]----signature below----[/small]
Majority rule don't work in mental institutions

My Crummy Web Page

 

[dseaver]

I've written a large part of my program, but havent loaded any source up to sourcforge.net yet, since I haven't finished the appointment comparison schemes yet, but I am on break this week, so hopefully i can get a beta finished and posted. Funny, I didn't even read the SaveSettings link you posted before deciding to save various information to an XML to begin with, I just thought it would be a very easy way to store it. The compact framework is similar to the regular .net, so far that is.