Using a .NET .snk Key File for RSA Encryption

Demonstrates how to load and use a .NET .snk key file for RSA encryption. SNK files are created by the Microsoft .NET Strong Name Tool (Sn.exe).

Download Chilkat .NET for 2.0 / 3.5 Framework

Download Chilkat .NET for 1.0 / 1.1 Framework

Dim rsa As New Chilkat.Rsa()

Dim success As Boolean
success = rsa.UnlockComponent("Anything for 30-day trial")
If (success <> true) Then
    MsgBox("RSA component unlock failed")
    Exit Sub
End If


'  Load a public/private key pair from a .snk key file.
Dim xmlKey As String
xmlKey = rsa.SnkToXml("chilkat2.snk")

TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text & xmlKey & vbCrLf

'  The xmlKey contains both public and private keys.
'  Import either the public or private for encrypting or
'  decrypting.
rsa.ImportPrivateKey(xmlKey)

Dim bUsePrivateKey As Boolean
bUsePrivateKey = true
Dim encryptedText As String
encryptedText = rsa.EncryptStringENC("Hello World!",bUsePrivateKey)

TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text & encryptedText & vbCrLf

'  Now decrypt with the public key:
rsa.ImportPublicKey(xmlKey)
bUsePrivateKey = false
Dim decryptedText As String
decryptedText = rsa.DecryptStringENC(encryptedText,bUsePrivateKey)

TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text & decryptedText & vbCrLf

'  Note: We could have just as well encrypted using the public key
'  and decrypted using the private key.