C# string encoding using ToBase64String

Question

I'm working on a C# encryption program, and I am pretty much done with it.

It encrypts and decrypts a string that I pass as an argument.

The only problem is that when I compare to equivalent Java encryption program I notice that c# converts hexadecimal of special characters.

Is there a way I can tell the program not to convert special characters and just represent them as hexadecimal?

Here is an example

Java :

4g8LAQXy%2B1M%3D

C#:

4g8LAQXy+1M=

As you can see, '+' in hex is 2B and '=' in hex is 3D.

% should not appear in Base64 output, the Java result looks URL encoded? where does it come from? — Alex K.
– Alex K., Commented Feb 4, 2014 at 16:19
To tag onto @DGibbs, Base64 is not encryption - it is encoding. Base64 is no better than plaintext. Just want to make sure that was clear. — longofest
– longofest, Commented Feb 4, 2014 at 16:21
I'm emulating PBEwith md5 and des c#. sorry i wasn't clear in the op — Wilson
– Wilson, Commented Feb 4, 2014 at 16:50
I have changed the title of the question to ensure base64 is not being confused with encryption. — Matt
– Matt, Commented Feb 4, 2014 at 16:57

Marc Gravell · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-04 16:19:50Z

1

That looks like url % encoding, not base-64; have you tried HttpUtility.UrlEncode() ?

string s = "4g8LAQXy+1M=";
string t = HttpUtility.UrlEncode(s); // 4g8LAQXy%2b1M%3d

answered Feb 4, 2014 at 16:19

Marc Gravell

1.1m273 gold badges2.6k silver badges3k bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

Marc Gravell Over a year ago

@user that method goes all the way back to 2.0 - just add a reference to System.Web.dll; or alternatively just write it yourself - it is pretty trivial to do (we use a custom one, IIRC)

Wilson Over a year ago

Is there a way for the %2b to be %2B? same for the %3d

Marc Gravell Over a year ago

@user well, in url-encode terms they are identical. You could hand-roll the encode, though - it is mainly "check the whitelist, check if it is outside the ascii range; if so, utf-8 encode and hex encode that

Wilson Over a year ago

Thanks for the tip. I approached it a little differently. I just looked for the % and just uppercased the following two characters. It worked as I intended.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

C# string encoding using ToBase64String

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related