[RESOLVED] Whats MD5

[maps]

Guys am new to this. Whats MD5?

[maps]

Is it simply a class!!??

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Ok. Message Digest is what i see in my MSDN

[jmcilhinney]

MD5 is a algorithm to create securely encrypted strings from existing strings. The idea is that the encrypted string cannot be used to recreate the original and small changes in the original will have unpredictable results on the encrypted value produced. This allows you to do things like hash a password and then store it in plain view without compromising security. The hashed value cannot be used to determine the original password except through brute force so there is no issue. When the user provides their password to log in you hash it using the same algorithm and compare the result with the stored value. If they matched then the user is authenticated. Us eof the MD5 algorithm is supported via several different classes in the System.Security.Cryptography namespace in the .NET Framework.

[maps]

Thanks i understand that bit....but what does MD5 stand for??

[jmcilhinney]

Try here.

[maps]

MD5 (Message-Digest algorithm 5)

[jmcilhinney]

MD5 (Message-Digest algorithm 5)

You don't say. Wow, that Google thingy's really useful. I might start using it myself.

[maps]

JMC!! before you redirected me there, i was already there. But hey wow. Thanks!