Password protection is an essential aspect to enhance the security of all forms of data stored in a database, but unfortunately, many people do not give it the attention it needs. In the world today, there is an increasing number of data breaches, and many of these malicious activities are perpetuated through password hacks. One of the best ways to protect data is to store passwords in a way that hackers cannot decode them. That’s where password hashing comes in. In this blog post, we will discuss how to hash password in database, and why it is essential.
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The Challenge of Password Security
Passwords are the most common form of authentication required to access many database-driven applications. The problem is that many application developers do not store passwords securely, leaving their users vulnerable to attacks. One of the ways passwords can be protected is by encrypting them using a one-way hash algorithm that makes it impossible to reverse-engineer the original password from the hashed version.
There are a lot of one-way hash algorithms such as MD5, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, Bcrypt, and Argon2, which can be employed to hash passwords in a database. However, some of these algorithms are outdated and easy to crack. For instance, the MD5 algorithm is no longer secure as it is vulnerable to attacks. On the other hand, Argon2 is one of the latest and most secure hash algorithms today.
In this post, we will discuss the methods on how you can hash passwords in a database to ensure that data is secure.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before going ahead to hash passwords in a database, here are some important preparations that you need to put in place:
– Identify the appropriate hash algorithm for your database
– Ensure all passwords in your database are hashed
– Migrate to the latest and most secure hash algorithm available
– Be prepared to enforce a strong password policy to ensure that passwords of your users are strong, unique, and difficult to guess
Method 1: Using PHP
PHP is a popular server-side scripting language used to build dynamic websites and web applications. It is also capable of performing password hashing. Here’s how to hash passwords in a database using PHP:
1. First, create a form where users can register and log in to the application
2. Get the entered password from the form
3. Hash the received password using the PHP function "password_hash()"
4. Store the hashed password in the database using a query
Pros:
– PHP is a popular scripting language and is widely supported by many web hosting companies
– PHP has built-in functions for password hashing, making it easier for developers to secure their applications
Cons:
– The use of PHP for password hashing may be limited to only web applications built with PHP.
Method 2: Using Bcrypt
Bcrypt is a password hashing function based on the Blowfish cipher. It is one of the most secure hash algorithms and can be employed to hash passwords in a database. Below is how to use Bcrypt to hash passwords in a database:
1. Import the Bcrypt hashing library into your application
2. Get the password from the user
3. Hash the password using Bcrypt function "bcrypt.hashpw()"
4. Store the hashed password in the database using a query
Pros:
– Bcrypt is more secure than many other hash algorithms available, such as MD5
– Bcrypt is relatively easy to implement
Cons:
– Bcrypt is not natively supported by all programming languages or web frameworks without additional code implementation
Method 3: Using Argon2
Argon2 is the latest and most secure password hashing algorithm available today. It was designed specifically to resist attacks from side-channel vulnerabilities and brute force attacks. Below is how to use Argon2 to hash passwords in a database:
1. Install the Argon2 hashing function into your application
2. Retrieve the password from the user
3. Encrypt the password using the Argon2 function "argon2id_hash()"
4. Store the hashed password in the database using a query
Pros:
– Argon2 is the most secure hashing function available today
– Argon2 is resistant to side-channel and brute force attacks
Cons:
– Argon2 can be computationally expensive, which may slow down server performance
Why Can’t I Hash Password Properly?
1. Use of outdated hash algorithms
– Always use up-to-date hash algorithms like Argon2, SHA-2, SHA-3, or Bcrypt for hashing your passwords. MD5 and SHA-1 hash algorithms, for instance, are outdated and have known vulnerabilities.
2. Incorrect implementation of hash algorithms
– Hash algorithms may differ slightly in their implementation across different languages, frameworks, and programming environments. It is important to understand the implementation specifics to ensure that the hashing process is done correctly.
3. Lack of encryption
– Hashing alone is not enough to protect passwords. It would be best if you also encrypted passwords using SSL or TLS. It is even better to use multi-factor authentication for enhanced protection.
Additional Tips
– Encrypt all data that users submit to your application, including passwords, user names, and other sensitive information
– Require users to use strong passwords that are complex and at least eight characters long and require a change of password every 90 days.
– Implement comprehensive monitoring tools that can detect attacks or attempts at brute-forcing your password hashes
5 FAQs about Password Hashing in Database
Q: How often should I change passwords that are stored in the database?
A: You should rarely need to change stored user passwords. Password resets should only occur if the user identifies such a need, e.g., when the password is lost or compromised.
Q: Can’t I save time by using appendices or encryption rather than using hash algorithms?
A: Without the application of hash functions, passwords would stay as plaintext in your database. Both appendices and encryption are reversible and therefore generally not safe to store passwords, since decrypting the data would reveal the original password.
Q: Should I store salt in a separate table for my hashes?
A: It is common to store salt in the same table as passwords, and it is usually not necessary to store them separately.
Q: How do I change hashing algorithms?
A: Hashing algorithms changes for long stored passwords to new algorithms can be difficult to manage, but migrating newer passwords to a new algorithm should be simpler. A good way to approach this is to implement your new algorithm over time for new passwords.
Q: Can my users secure their passwords by themselves?
A: There are several things that users can do to protect their passwords. Educating them about password best practices (e.g., use of strong passwords, change passwords frequently) is an effective way to help them take responsibility for securing their accounts.
In Conclusion
Hashing passwords in a database is an essential aspect of achieving password security. The use of one-way hash algorithms such as MD5, SHA-2, SHA-3, Bcrypt, and Argon2 ensures that passwords are stored securely and cannot be easily decrypted. It is essential to use up-to-date algorithms such as Argon2, SHA-2, and Bcrypt, and ensure that you enforce a strong password policy. Finally, ensure that you periodically monitor your database for attacks or attempts at a brute-force method to ensure the highest level of security for your users’ account.