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Introduction to (Windows Runtime apps) security

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[ This article is for Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x developers writing Windows Runtime apps. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation ]

The following provides an introduction to the security for apps.

Terminology

The following terminology is commonly used in cryptography and public key infrastructure (PKI).

Term Description

Encryption

The process of transforming data by using a cryptographic algorithm and key. The transformed data can be recovered only by using the same algorithm and the same (symmetric) or related (public) key.

Decryption

The process of returning encrypted data to its original form.

Plaintext

Originally referred to an unencrypted text message. Currently refers to any unencrypted data.

Ciphertext

Originally referred to an encrypted, and therefore unreadable, text message. Currently refers to any encrypted data.

Hashing

The process of converting variable length data into a fixed length, typically smaller, value. By comparing hashes, you can obtain reasonable assurance that two or more data are the same.

Signature

Encrypted hash of digital data typically used to authenticate the sender of the data or verify that the data was not tampered with during transmission.

Algorithm

A step-by-step procedure for encrypting data.

Key

A random or pseudorandom number used as input to a cryptographic algorithm to encrypt and decrypt data.

Symmetric Key Cryptography

Cryptography in which encryption and decryption use the same key. This is also known as secret key cryptography.

Asymmetric Key Cryptography

Cryptography in which encryption and decryption use a different but mathematically related key. This is also called public key cryptography.

Encoding

The process of encoding digital messages, including certificates, for transport across a network.

Algorithm Provider

A DLL that implements a cryptographic algorithm.

Key Storage Provider

A container for storing key material. Currently, keys can be stored in software, smart cards, or the trusted platform module (TPM).

X.509 Certificate

A digital document, typically issued by a certification authority, to verify the identity of an individual, system, or entity to other interested parties.

 

Namespaces

The following namespaces are available for use in apps.

Windows.Security.Cryptography

Contains the CryptographicBuffer class and static methods that enable you to:

  • Convert data to and from strings
  • Convert data to and from byte arrays
  • Encode messages for network transport
  • Decode messages after transport

Windows.Security.Cryptography.Certificates

Contains classes, interfaces, and enumeration types that enable you to:

  • Create a certificate request
  • Install a certificate response
  • Import a certificate in a PFX file
  • Specify and retrieve certificate request properties

Windows.Security.Cryptography.Core

Contains classes and enumeration types that enable you to:

  • Encrypt and decrypt data
  • Hash data
  • Sign data and verify signatures
  • Create, import, and export keys
  • Work with asymmetric key algorithm providers
  • Work with symmetric key algorithm providers
  • Work with hash algorithm providers
  • Work with machine authentication code (MAC) algorithm providers
  • Work with key derivation algorithm providers

Windows.Security.Cryptography.DataProtection

Contains classes that enable you to:

  • Asynchronously encrypt and decrypt static data
  • Asynchronously encrypt and decrypt data streams

Crypto and PKI application capabilities

The simplified application programming interface available for apps enables the following cryptographic and public key infrastructure (PKI) capabilities.

Cryptography support

You can perform the following cryptographic tasks. For more information, see the Windows.Security.Cryptography.Core namespace.

  • Create symmetric keys
  • Perform symmetric encryption
  • Create asymmetric keys
  • Perform asymmetric encryption
  • Derive password based keys
  • Create message authentication codes (MACs)
  • Hash content
  • Digitally sign content

The Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows 8 also provides a simplified interface for password-based data protection. You can use this to perform the following tasks. For more information, see the Windows.Security.Cryptography.DataProtection namespace.

  • Asynchronous protection of static data
  • Asynchronous protection of a data stream

Encoding support

An app can encode cryptographic data for transmission across a network and decode data received from a network source. For more information, see the static methods available in the Windows.Security.Cryptography namespace.

PKI support

Apps can perform the following PKI tasks. For more information, see the Windows.Security.Cryptography.Certificates namespace.

  • Create a certificate
  • Create a self-signed certificate
  • Install a certificate response
  • Import a certificate in PFX format
  • Use smart card certificates and keys (sharedUserCertificates capabilities set)
  • Use certificates from the user MY store (sharedUserCertificates capabilities set)

Additionally, you can use the manifest to perform the following actions:

  • Specify per application trusted root certificates
  • Specify per application peer trusted certificates
  • Explicitly disable inheritance from system trust
  • Specify the certificate selection criteria
    • Hardware certificates only
    • Certificates that chain through a specified set of issuers
    • Automatically select a certificate from the application store

Cryptography and PKI