Security Modules
This chapter would be incomplete without a brief glance at the underlying interface that supports Windows cryptographic-enabled applications, such as Microsoft Certificate Services and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Cryptographic Application Programming Interface
Microsoft CryptoAPI provides a standardized set of cryptographic functions, such as CryptGenKey, CryptVerifySignature, and CryptEncrypt, that allow applications to offer security without having to maintain their own cache of keys or certificates or know the particulars of the cryptographic device they’re using. Because private keys are handled within the bounds of CryptoAPI, applications don’t need to fumble around with unprotected private-key information.
When used, ...
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