How to convert a Securestring to String using C# and VB.NET

June 29, 2015

Here is an example on how to convert a Securestring to String using C# and VB.NET.
Please remember that storing the data in a plain string will be beat the whole point of using SecureString. This method should only be used for testing purposes.
This Extension Method is now part of the Fesslersoft.Extensions.

Samples

C# Sample

public static string ToUnsecureString(this SecureString source)
{
	var returnValue = IntPtr.Zero;
	try
	{
		returnValue = Marshal.SecureStringToGlobalAllocUnicode(source);
		return Marshal.PtrToStringUni(returnValue);
	}
	finally
	{
		Marshal.ZeroFreeGlobalAllocUnicode(returnValue);
	}
}

public static string ToUnsecureString(this SecureString source)

{

var returnValue = IntPtr.Zero;

try

{

returnValue = Marshal.SecureStringToGlobalAllocUnicode(source);

return Marshal.PtrToStringUni(returnValue);

}

finally

{

Marshal.ZeroFreeGlobalAllocUnicode(returnValue);

}

VB.NET Sample

<System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension> _
Public Shared Function ToUnsecureString(source As SecureString) As String
	Dim returnValue = IntPtr.Zero
	Try
		returnValue = Marshal.SecureStringToGlobalAllocUnicode(source)
		Return Marshal.PtrToStringUni(returnValue)
	Finally
		Marshal.ZeroFreeGlobalAllocUnicode(returnValue)
	End Try
End Function

<System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension> _

Public Shared Function ToUnsecureString(source As SecureString) As String

Dim returnValue = IntPtr.Zero

Try

returnValue = Marshal.SecureStringToGlobalAllocUnicode(source)

Return Marshal.PtrToStringUni(returnValue)

Finally

Marshal.ZeroFreeGlobalAllocUnicode(returnValue)

End Try

End Function

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Related links:

How to convert a String to Securestring using C# and VB.NET

Administrator

June 29, 2015

0 Comments

Here is an example on how to convert a String to Securestring using C# and VB.NET.
Please remember that the plain string which will be converted to SecureString beats the whole point of using SecureString. This method should only be used for testing purposes.
This Extension Method is now part of the Fesslersoft.Extensions.

Samples

C# Sample

public static SecureString ToSecureString(this string source)
{
	if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(source))
	{
		return null;
	}
	var result = new SecureString();
	foreach (var c in source)
	{
		result.AppendChar(c);
	}
	return result;
}

public static SecureString ToSecureString(this string source)

{

if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(source))

{

return null;

}

var result = new SecureString();

foreach (var c in source)

{

result.AppendChar(c);

}

return result;

}

VB.NET Sample

<System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension> _
Public Shared Function ToSecureString(source As String) As SecureString
	If String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(source) Then
		Return Nothing
	End If
	Dim result = New SecureString()
	For Each c As char In source
		result.AppendChar(c)
	Next
	Return result
End Function

<System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension> _

Public Shared Function ToSecureString(source As String) As SecureString

If String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(source) Then

Return Nothing

End If

Dim result = New SecureString()

For Each c As char In source

result.AppendChar(c)

Return result

End Function

If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to rate this snippet, post a comment or Contact Us via Email.

Related links:

What is the difference between mutable and immutable in C# and VB.NET

Administrator

March 12, 2015

7 Comments

What is the difference between a mutable and immutable string in C# and VB.NET?

A mutable string can be changed.

An immutable string cannot be changed.

Mutable is the english word for can change. Immutable is the english word for cannot change.

if you alter a String, you are creating a new string object internally. So String is immutable. If you alter a StringBuilder no new Objects are created internally so, StringBuilder is mutable.

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How to convert a Securestring to String using C# and VB.NET

Samples

C# Sample

VB.NET Sample

How to convert a String to Securestring using C# and VB.NET

Samples

C# Sample

VB.NET Sample

What is the difference between mutable and immutable in C# and VB.NET