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This example demonstrates two encryption approaches: basic SHA1 encryption and efficient SHA512 encryption with salt for enhanced security.

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Overview

The HelperCryptography class provides cryptographic utilities for hashing sensitive data like passwords. It offers both basic and advanced encryption methods with comparison capabilities.

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Encryption Methods

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Basic Encryption (SHA1)

Simple SHA1-based encryption suitable for basic hashing needs.

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Efficient Encryption (SHA512 + Salt)

Advanced encryption using SHA512 with randomly generated salt, iterated 12 times for enhanced security.

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Complete Implementation

1

Create the Cryptography Helper

The HelperCryptography class provides static methods for encryption.
Helpers/HelperCryptography.cs
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Text;

namespace MvcCoreUtilidades.Helpers
{
    public class HelperCryptography
    {
        public static string Salt { get; set; }

        private static string GenerateSalt()
        {
            Random random = new Random();
            string salt = "";
            for (int i = 1; i <= 30; i++)
            {
                int num = random.Next(1, 255);
                char letra = Convert.ToChar(num);
                salt += letra;
            }
            return salt;
        }

        public static string CifrarContenido(string contenido, bool comparar)
        {
            if (comparar == false)
            {
                Salt = GenerateSalt();
            }

            string contenidoSalt = contenido + Salt;
            SHA512 managed = SHA512.Create();
            UnicodeEncoding encoding = new UnicodeEncoding();
            byte[] salida;
            salida = encoding.GetBytes(contenidoSalt);
            for (int i = 1; i <= 12; i++)
            {
                salida = managed.ComputeHash(salida);
            }
            managed.Clear();
            string resultado = encoding.GetString(salida);
            return resultado;
        }

        public static string EncriptarTextoBasico(string contenido)
        {
            byte[] entrada;
            byte[] salida;
            UnicodeEncoding encoding = new UnicodeEncoding();
            SHA1 managed = SHA1.Create();
            entrada = encoding.GetBytes(contenido);
            salida = managed.ComputeHash(entrada);

            string resultado = encoding.GetString(salida);
            return resultado;
        }
    }
}
See HelperCryptography.cs:24 and HelperCryptography.cs:45
2

Create the Controller

The controller handles both encryption methods with encrypt and compare actions.
Controllers/CifradosController.cs
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using MvcCoreUtilidades.Helpers;

namespace MvcCoreUtilidades.Controllers
{
    public class CifradosController : Controller
    {
        public IActionResult Index()
        {
            return View();
        }

        public IActionResult CifradoBasico()
        {
            return View();
        }

        public IActionResult CifradoEficiente()
        {
            return View();
        }

        [HttpPost]
        public IActionResult CifradoEficiente(string contenido, string resultado, string accion)
        {
            if (accion.ToLower() == "cifrar")
            {
                string response = HelperCryptography.CifrarContenido(contenido, false);
                ViewData["TEXTOCIFRADO"] = response;
                ViewData["SALT"] = HelperCryptography.Salt;
            }
            else if (accion.ToLower() == "comparar")
            {
                string response = HelperCryptography.CifrarContenido(contenido, true);
                if (response != resultado)
                {
                    ViewData["MENSAJE"] = "Los datos son distintos...";
                }
                else
                {
                    ViewData["MENSAJE"] = "Los datos son IGUALES!!!";
                }
            }
            return View();
        }

        [HttpPost]
        public IActionResult CifradoBasico(string contenido, string resultado, string accion)
        {
            string response =
            HelperCryptography.EncriptarTextoBasico(contenido);
            if (accion.ToLower() == "cifrar")
            {
                ViewData["TEXTOCIFRADO"] = response;
            }
            else if (accion.ToLower() == "comparar")
            {
                if (response != resultado)
                {
                    ViewData["MENSAJE"] = "Los datos no coinciden";
                }
                else
                {
                    ViewData["MENSAJE"] = "Contenidos iguales!!!";
                }
            }
            return View();
        }
    }
}
See CifradosController.cs:24 and CifradosController.cs:48
3

Create the Views

Basic Encryption View:
Views/Cifrados/CifradoBasico.cshtml
<h1>Cifrado básico Texto</h1>

<form method="post" class="my-2">
    <label>Contenido a cifrar: </label>
    <input type="text" name="contenido" class="form-control" />
    <label class="mt-1">Resultado cifrado: </label>
    <textarea rows="5" name="resultado" class="form-control">@ViewData["TEXTOCIFRADO"]</textarea>
    <button class="btn btn-info my-2" name="accion" value="cifrar">
    Cifrar contenido
    </button>
    <button class="btn btn-danger" name="accion" value="comparar">
    Comparar cifrado
    </button>
</form>
<h2 style="color: blue">@ViewData["MENSAJE"]</h2>
Efficient Encryption View:
Views/Cifrados/CifradoEficiente.cshtml
<h1>Cifrado Eficiente</h1>

<form method="post" class="my-2">
    <label>Contenido a cifrar: </label>
    <input type="text" name="contenido" class="form-control" />
    <label class="mt-1">Resultado cifrado: </label>
    <textarea rows="5" name="resultado" class="form-control">@ViewData["TEXTOCIFRADO"]</textarea>
    <button class="btn btn-info my-2" name="accion" value="cifrar">
        Cifrar contenido
    </button>
    <button class="btn btn-danger" name="accion" value="comparar">
        Comparar cifrado
    </button>
</form>
<h3 style="color:red">@ViewData["SALT"]</h3>
<h2 style="color:blue">@ViewData["MENSAJE"]</h2>

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How It Works

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Basic Encryption Workflow

  1. Encrypt: Enter text → Click “Cifrar contenido” → Get SHA1 hash
  2. Compare: Enter original text → Paste encrypted result → Click “Comparar cifrado” → Verify match

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Efficient Encryption Workflow

  1. Encrypt: Enter text → Click “Cifrar contenido” → Get SHA512 hash + Salt displayed
  2. Store Salt: Save the displayed salt (red text) - required for comparison
  3. Compare: Enter original text → Paste encrypted result → Click “Comparar cifrado” → Uses same salt to verify

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Key Differences

  • Algorithm: SHA1
  • Salt: None
  • Iterations: 1
  • Security: Basic
  • Use Case: Simple hashing, checksums
  • Same input always produces same output
  • Algorithm: SHA512
  • Salt: 30-character random string
  • Iterations: 12 (repeated hashing)
  • Security: Enhanced
  • Use Case: Password hashing, sensitive data
  • Same input produces different output each time (due to random salt)

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Important Security Notes

The salt is generated randomly each time you encrypt. For comparison to work:
  1. Store the salt along with the encrypted value
  2. Use the same salt when comparing (set comparar = true)
  3. The HelperCryptography.Salt property must contain the original salt
For production password hashing, consider using:
  • BCrypt or Argon2 instead of custom implementations
  • Built-in ASP.NET Core Identity password hashers
  • These provide industry-standard security

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Usage Examples

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Encrypting a Password

// Encrypt with SHA512 + Salt
string encrypted = HelperCryptography.CifrarContenido("myPassword123", false);
string salt = HelperCryptography.Salt;

// Store both encrypted value and salt in database

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Comparing a Password

// Retrieve salt from database
HelperCryptography.Salt = storedSalt;

// Compare user input with stored encrypted value
string inputEncrypted = HelperCryptography.CifrarContenido(userInput, true);
if (inputEncrypted == storedEncryptedPassword)
{
    // Password matches
}

HelperCryptography

Complete API reference for encryption methods

Controllers

CifradosController API reference

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