How to Decrypt AES Encrypted File in C#: A Step-by-Step Guide 📁🔑💻

Introduction:

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of decrypting AES encrypted files in C#. Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate developer, this tutorial will equip you with the knowledge and code examples to successfully decrypt AES encrypted files. Let's dive into the world of cryptography and secure file decryption in C#! 🚀🔍

Understanding AES Encryption and Decryption:

AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a widely used symmetric encryption algorithm known for its security and efficiency.

In AES encryption, data is transformed into ciphertext using a secret key, and decryption reverses this process to reveal the original data.

We will explore the AES decryption process step by step:

Step 1: Include Necessary Libraries:

To begin, make sure you have the appropriate libraries and namespaces imported for AES decryption in C#.

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Security.Cryptography;

Step 2: Set Up Key and IV (Initialization Vector):

The decryption process requires the same key and IV used during encryption. Ensure you have the correct values.

string encryptionKey = "YourEncryptionKey"; // 16, 24, or 32 characters for AES-128, AES-192, or AES-256
string iv = "YourInitializationVector"; // 16 characters for AES

Step 3: Create AES Decryptor:

Create an AES decryptor using the provided key and IV.

byte[] keyBytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(encryptionKey);
byte[] ivBytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(iv);

using Aes aes = Aes.Create();
aes.Key = keyBytes;
aes.IV = ivBytes;

Step 4: Read and Decrypt the File:

Read the encrypted file, decrypt it using the AES decryptor, and save the decrypted data to a new file.

string encryptedFilePath = "path/to/encrypted/file";
string decryptedFilePath = "path/to/decrypted/file";

byte[] encryptedData = File.ReadAllBytes(encryptedFilePath);

using MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream();
using (CryptoStream cs = new CryptoStream(ms, aes.CreateDecryptor(), CryptoStreamMode.Write))
{
cs.Write(encryptedData, 0, encryptedData.Length);
cs.FlushFinalBlock();
}

byte[] decryptedData = ms.ToArray();
File.WriteAllBytes(decryptedFilePath, decryptedData);

Conclusion:

With the step-by-step guide and code examples provided in this blog, you are now equipped to successfully decrypt AES encrypted files in C#. Embrace the power of cryptography and secure your sensitive data with AES encryption and decryption techniques.

Happy coding! 😊💻

How to Decrypt AES Encrypted File in C#: A Step-by-Step Guide 📁🔑💻