Could anyone see the file in anyway once coded into byte format ?

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Suppose my program codes a file into byte and save it. Could anyone see that file in anyway ...

What I have tried:

The idea came in my mind because it's the question of data security.

Posted 28-Feb-21 21:43pm

Member 12712527

Updated 16-Jul-21 6:12am

RedDk

v2

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PIEBALDconsult 16-Jul-21 12:39pm

Sure I can, unsure I can understand it, but I could read it.

4 solutions

Solution 1

The answer is opinion based only...

Yes and No.
Yes - if there's no encryption.
No - if an encryption is used (i.e.: AES).

Please, read this: Encrypting Data | Microsoft Docs[^]

Posted 28-Feb-21 21:53pm

Maciej Los

Solution 2

Yes.
All files are stored by the system as a "stream" of bytes - text files, Excel files, EXE files, database files - they are all just streams of bytes at the most basic level. Applications add formatting to that data by interpreting what a particular byte value in a particular position in the file means.
For example, if the first two bytes of a file are "MZ" then it could be a DOS executable, and all EXE files that run under windows will include that two byte "signature" - and you can open any EXE file (including C# Windows apps) in a editor such as PSPad and see that signature and some of the text.

And every file has to be readable or your app can't open it either - so yes, anyone who has access to the machine for legitimate reasons can look at your file content. Generally speaking, it isn't difficult to work out file formats from the byte stream and extract whatever info you need from them.

What are you trying to do that you think you need this not to be possible?

Posted 28-Feb-21 21:59pm

OriginalGriff

Comments

Member 12712527 1-Mar-21 6:08am

no sir it isn't possible for anyone to read my data
suppose there is a word of even numbered length and i divide the word by 2. converted into integer and added or subtracted it 2 to it and then transformed into byte code.
would it be possible for anyone to transform back to original data from outside the program ?

Chris Copeland 1-Mar-21 6:27am

It sort of sounds like you want to protect data in a file, and what you might find is it's very difficult to do so. You can perform algorithms on the data, and even encrypt the data using an encryption algorithm (with a key used to decrypt), but you should be aware that it's relatively easy to open a DLL or EXE in a decompilation tool (like ILSpy) and see what that process is.

That process becomes a little more involved once you move down to C/C++ or ASM, but it's still something that can happen.

Member 12712527 1-Mar-21 6:32am

data file by oracle or ms sql server can they be seen ?

Chris Copeland 1-Mar-21 6:52am

Certainly, you can see the documentation to be informed of where the data files sit. If the files aren't encrypted (they likely will be, however) then you could easily look at them.

Remember that the likes of Oracle/MSSQL are written in lower-level languages, and will employ enterprise-level methods for protecting the files, making them much harder to decrypt.

OriginalGriff 1-Mar-21 6:30am

Yes.
Remember, your code has to be able to do it - which means that it is possible. And since your code can do it, all I'd have to do is ... look at your code and I'll know how to do it as well!

What - exactly - are you trying to protect? There may be a better way to deal with the problem.

Member 12712527 1-Mar-21 6:35am

i am making a database and the data it provides would be saved in a file if i code it this way then how

OriginalGriff 1-Mar-21 6:59am

No, what data are you trying to protect?
For example, if it's a list of usernames and passwords, then you are doing it all wrong: you don't store passwords encrypted at all, you hash them.

And writing your own database sounds like a silly idea - it's a considerable amount of work for no real advantage!

Member 12712527 1-Mar-21 8:41am

if you can get the software you could decrypt it in someway because it is made up of microsoft c# but if you get only the dbfile then could you be able to decrypt it

OriginalGriff 1-Mar-21 9:44am

If I don't have the software, I don't have the DB it uses either ...
COnversely, if I have the DB and the software, I can look in the software to work out the DB ... and pretty easily, most of the time ...

And if your software provides the password to open the DB, I can use that password to open it when I want to...

Member 12712527 1-Mar-21 8:43am

if you have the software only then you can open the dbfile otherwise not this dbfile is asked for password within the software

Member 12712527 1-Mar-21 6:37am

sir i have done similar type of program

Solution 5

Quote:
suppose my program code a file into byte and save it . could anyone see that file in anyway ...

Yes the file is still visible.
Avery one will be able to see the bytes of the file.

Posted 1-Mar-21 0:11am

Patrice T

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Chris Copeland · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-01T02:50:00

To summarise what's been discussed against your original question, it sounds like you're building your own database-style system in C# and want to know whether other people will be able to access the database data files and view/expose the data within.

If you're planning on building a database system similar to SQLite, which stores the database on the same machine as the client, then it's highly likely that those files would be exposed. Even if you employ encryption on the files to secure it, anyone with access to your assembly (EXE or DLL) could reverse-engineer it and work out how the files are formatted, and what encryption was used.

Traditionally, in a more corporate environment, the database would be sitting on a server somewhere within the infrastructure of the business. This would be handled by system administrators, and interacting with the database involves connecting to and authenticating with the database server, issuing SQL queries in order to interact with the data, thus protecting the data files. Only authorised system administrators would have access to the servers (in theory) and wouldn't be considered malicious actors.

As OriginalGriff mentioned, there's not much point in creating your own database system since there's lots of options already out there. If you're planning on making one anyway, perhaps as a personal project or some sort of learning opportunity, then by all means go ahead! But just be aware that locally stored databases aren't guaranteed to be secure.