Encrypting a Message in CAPICOM

[CAPICOM is a 32-bit only component that is available for use in the following operating systems: Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Instead, use the .NET Framework to implement security features. For more information, see Alternatives to Using CAPICOM.]

This subroutine takes a string to be encrypted, a password string to be used to generate an encryption key, and the name of a file where the encrypted message will be written. All parameters are passed into the subroutine by values. To decrypt the message, the same password string must be used. If the password is lost, the text cannot be decrypted. The privacy of the message is lost if an unintended recipient gains access to the password.

On any CAPICOM error, a negative decimal value of the Err.Number property is returned. For more information, see CAPICOM_ERROR_CODE. For information about positive decimal values of Err.Number, see Winerror.h.

Sub EncryptMessage(ByVal TobeEncrypted As String, ByVal hidden _
    As String, ByVal filename As String)

    On Error GoTo ErrorHandler

    ' Declare and initialize an EncryptedData object.
    ' Algorithm.Name and KeyLength do not need to be set.

    Dim message As New EncryptedData
    message.Content = Tobeencrypted
    message.SetSecret(hidden)
    ' Optionally, the encryption algorithm and key length can be set.
    ' If these properties are not set, the default algorithm and key 
    ' length are used.
    ' Information about the algorithm and key length is saved with 
    ' the encrypted string and the individual decrypting the message
    ' does not need to set these properties.

    message.Algorithm.Name = CAPICOM_ENCRYPTION_ALGORITHM_DES

    ' Declare the string that will hold the encrypted message.

    Dim encryptedmessage As String

    ' Encrypt the message storing the result in the encryptedmessage
    ' string.
    encryptedmessage = message.Encrypt

    ' Optionally, check the length of the encrypted string to 
    ' make sure that the encrypt method worked. 

    If Len(encryptedmessage) < 1 Then
        MsgBox("no message encrypted. ")
    Else
        MsgBox(" Message is " & Len(encryptedmessage) & " characters")

        ' Open an output file and write the encrypted message to the
        ' file. The file is not opened if there is no message
        ' to write.
    Open filename For Output As #1
    Write #1, encryptedmessage
    Close #1
        MsgBox("Encrypted message written to file ")
    End If

    ' Release the EncryptedData object.
    message = Nothing

    Exit Sub

ErrorHandler:
    If Err.Number > 0 Then
        MsgBox("Visual Basic error found:" & Err.Description)
    Else
        MsgBox("CAPICOM error found : " & Err.Number)
    End If
End Sub