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In certificates, what is KSP & CSP, and what are their difference? In C#, how to figure out whether the certificate is using CSP or KSP.
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The CSPs are responsible for creating, storing and accessing cryptographic keys – the underpinnings of any certificate and PKI. These keys can be symmetric or asymmetric, RSA, Elliptical Key or a host of others such as DES, 3DES, and so forth.
In Microsoft Windows, a Cryptographic Service Provider (CSP) is a software library that implements the Microsoft CryptoAPI (CAPI). CSPs implement encoding and decoding functions, which computer application programs may use, for example, to implement strong user authentication or for secure email.
Kerbal Space Program (KSP) is a space flight simulation video game developed by Mexican developer Squad for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
The Microsoft Strong Cryptographic Provider is used as the default RSA Full cryptographic service provider (CSP). It supports all of the algorithms of the Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider and all of the same key lengths.
CSP is Cryptographic service provider.
KSP is Key storage provider.
See MSDN for samples of working with the System.Security.Cryptography namespace.
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Use the certutil command.
When generating a certificate request (custom request) in the mmc on Windows Server 2012 R2 for example, you will be presented with a list of choices under the Private Key tab, Cryptographic Service Provider arrow.
For Legacy (CSP), all providers end with Cryptographic Provider. For CNG (KSP), all providers end with Key Storage Provider.
Example(run cmd.exe as administrator)
certutil "name of the certificate including suffix" enter password if required look for the line Provider =
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