SymmetricKey Property

The symmetric key used to encrypt and decrypt the XML.

Syntax

[VB.NET]
Public Property SymmetricKey As String
Public Property SymmetricKeyB As Byte()

[C#]
public string SymmetricKey {get; set;}
public byte[] SymmetricKeyB {get; set;}

Remarks

This property specifies the symmetric key used to encrypt and decrypt the XML.

Encrypt Notes

When calling Encrypt if the RecipientCert property is set, then the SymmetricKey will be encrypted and included in the XML as an encrypted key. Using asymmetric encryption to encrypt the SymmetricKey allows for secure transmission of the key. This is also referred to as using a session key, as no prior knowledge of the SymmetricKey is required by the recipient.

If the RecipientCert property is set and SymmetricKey is left empty, then a SymmetricKey value will automatically be generated by the component when Encrypt is called.

When calling Encrypt if the RecipientCert property is are not set, then the SymmetricKey value must be known by the recipient before the message can be decrypted.

Decrypt Notes

When calling Decrypt if the data contains an encrypted key the component will attempt to use the certificate specified by the Certificate property to decrypt the encrypted key and this property is ignored.

When calling Decrypt if the data does not contain an encrypted key then SymmetricKey must be set either before calling Decrypt, or within the EncryptedDataInfo event.

Legal Key and Block Sizes (in bits)

This property is not available at design time.

Default Value

""