C# File Encryption and Decryption: Protecting Your Data (2024)

In today’s digital world, data security is of paramount importance. Encrypting sensitive files ensures that only authorized individuals can access and understand the data. In this article,

we will explore how to encrypt and decrypt files in C#, providing step-by-step guidance for both processes. Whether you are a beginner or have basic knowledge of C#, this article will help you understand file encryption and decryption concepts and provide you with code snippets to implement them in your projects.

How to Encrypt a File in C#:

Encrypting a file involves transforming its contents into an unreadable format, making it secure from unauthorized access. Here are the steps to encrypt a file in C#:

1. Generate a cryptographic key: Use a cryptographic algorithm like AES or RSA to generate a secure encryption key.
2. Open the file for encryption: Open the file you want to encrypt using the FileStream class in C#.
3. Create an encryption algorithm: Initialize a cryptographic algorithm, such as AesManaged or RijndaelManaged, with the generated key.
4. Encrypt the file: Use a combination of cryptographic classes like CryptoStream and FileStream to read the file, encrypt its contents, and write the…