How Can Hashing and Salting Enhance Security When Storing User Passwords in a Database?

Security Concerns in Database Storage of Usernames and Passwords

When handling user credentials, database security is paramount. While using parameters can prevent SQL injection attacks, additional measures are necessary to safeguard sensitive data like passwords. Storing passwords in plaintext poses significant risks; instead, best practices dictate implementing a robust hashing and salting mechanism.

Password Hashing and Salting for Enhanced Security

1. Hashing: Convert passwords into a one-way, irreversible digest using a cryptographic hash function (e.g., SHA256, SHA512). The resulting hash is unique and does not reveal the original password.
2. Salting: Add a random salt to each password before hashing. The salt prevents attackers from using precomputed hash tables to decrypt passwords.

Implementation in Your Code:

Your code snippets for INSERT INTO statements handle username submission, but they lack the crucial password hashing and salting steps. To enhance security, consider the following modifications:

' Generate a random salt for each user
Dim dbSalt = CreateNewSalt(SaltSize)

' Hash the password using the salt
Dim SaltedPWHash = GetSaltedHash(membersPassword.Text, dbSalt)

' Insert hashed password into the database
COMMAND = New MySqlCommand("INSERT INTO members(username,password) VALUES(@memberToAdd, @memberPassword)", MySQLCon)
COMMAND.Parameters.AddWithValue("@memberToAdd", memberToAdd.Text)
COMMAND.Parameters.AddWithValue("@memberPassword", SaltedPWHash)
COMMAND.ExecuteNonQuery()

Additional Guidelines:

• Store the salt and hashed password as separate fields in the database.
• Use a strong and unique salt for each user.
• Consider multiple hashing rounds to increase computational cost for attackers.
• Regularly review and update your password protection mechanisms to stay abreast of evolving security threats.

By adhering to these best practices, you can effectively protect user passwords stored in your database, ensuring their privacy and safeguarding your application from unauthorized access.

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