WebApp Sec: Re: storing SSNs, CCNs, password in the DB

[Adam Shostack <adam () homeport org>]

So, this will sound like pedantry, but it's worth starting from:  The
most secure way is to not store them.  Use them for what you need, and
then throw them away.  With increasing numbers of laws coming into
effect if you store these sorts of data, it may be worth business
process analysis to see if you can discard data early.

If you don't have an SSN, you can't decide that it would make a good
password.  (You also can't report on tax issues.)

Adam

On Sun, Feb 27, 2005 at 02:32:12PM -0800, Francesco wrote:
| What is the most secure way to store SSNs, CCNs, and passwords in the
| DB?
| 
| Is this a good general policy?
| 
| 1. If you need to be able to read the data back, the encrypt/decrypt
| with something like TDES, storing the keys in the registry.
| 
| 2. If you don't need to read the data back and you just need to compare,
| then hash/salt with SHA1, storing the hash and salt in the DB.
| 
| Francesco