How to encrypt a SQLITE .db file

Question

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Hi,

I've developed a windows application which runs on a sqlite database. I'm packaging that .db file with installer. But i want that this .db file should not be opened by any sqlite editor like SqliteAdmin etc.. ANy idea how to do this??

Thank you

Posted 18-Aug-12 8:18am

DEB4u

Updated 7-Jul-22 9:15am

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Comments

Kenneth Haugland 18-Aug-12 14:31pm

Cant you set it password protected? and encrypt the data?

DEB4u 19-Aug-12 3:44am

password protected

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 18-Aug-12 14:33pm

Does it mean that you are not using it as a server? You need to explain who are you protecting it from. If there is a key to decrypt it to serve data, anyone who can get the key can decrypt it too. So, any realistic scenario?
--SA

3 solutions

Solution 2

To set the password:

C#

public static void SetPassword ()
{
    var con = new SQLiteConnection(connectionString);
    con.Open();
    con.ChangePassword(PASSWORD);
    con.Close();
}

To remove the password:

C#

public static void ReSetPassword()
{
    var con = new SQLiteConnection(connectionString);
    con.Open();
    con.ChangePassword("");
    con.Close();
}

To open the encrypted database programmatically, append the password to the regular connection string:

C#

connectionString += "Password=" + thePassword + ";";

Posted 15-Oct-14 7:33am

Bilal Haider

Comments

aruyc 31-Mar-15 2:25am

Getting error while querying password protected database "file is encrypted or is not a database" even though password in connection string is right.

code:
public DataFile()
{
string dbPath = Environment.CurrentDirectory + "\\DataBase\\mydb1.sqlite";
string conn = @"Data Source=" + dbPath + ";";
sqlcon = new SQLiteConnection(conn);

sqlcon.Open();
sqlcon.ChangePassword("mydb"); //setting password here
sqlcon.Close();

conn = @"Data Source=" + dbPath + ";Password=mydb;";
sqlcon = new SQLiteConnection(conn);
}

internal DataSet SQLiteSelect(string TableName)
{
SQLiteCommand cmd = new SQLiteCommand(sqlcon);
DataSet ds = new DataSet(TableName);
sqlcon.Open();
cmd.CommandText = "select * from " + TableName;
SQLiteDataAdapter datadapter = new SQLiteDataAdapter(cmd);
try
{
datadapter.Fill(ds, TableName);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show("Error: " + ex.Message);
}
finally
{
cmd.Dispose();
sqlcon.Close();
}
return ds;
}

I am getting error at
datadapter.Fill(ds, TableName);

what i am doing wrong?

aruyc 3-Apr-15 8:07am

Found solution of my question. when you need to open connection again just initialize connection object with connection string having password. working now.

sandip.chaudhari90 25-Sep-15 11:06am

Can u please explain in details i have same issue

Solution 6

To password protect and to encrypt an sqlite database, using military grade encryption, you will need to buy SQLite Encryption Extension[^]

Posted 7-Jul-22 9:15am

Michael Haephrati

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Mehdi Gholam · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-18T08:33:00

Solution 1

Read the following :
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1381264/password-protect-a-sqlite-db-is-it-possible[^]

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5669905/sqlite-with-encryption-password-protection[^]

Posted 18-Aug-12 8:33am

Mehdi Gholam

Comments

DEB4u 19-Aug-12 3:47am

it worked for setting the database password :
conn = New SQLiteConnection()
conn.ChangePassword("password")
..

It sets the password.. but how to remove the password?

Mehdi Gholam 19-Aug-12 4:33am

Usually you open another db without password then copy the data over.

[no name] 19-Nov-13 10:36am

"It sets the password.. but how to remove the password?"

conn = New SQLiteConnection() conn.ChangePassword("sPassword")

(Spassword = string.empty)

or conn = New SQLiteConnection() conn.ChangePassword("")