Encryption

Using authenticators with SQL Server encryption

Authenticators are additional data that gets encrypted along with the data to be stored in an encrypted manner. When it comes to decrypt the data, if the right authenticator isn't specified, SQL Server doesn't return the data in the decrypted form. Rather, a NULL value is returned, just as if the wrong key was used.

Cryptography

Is not encrypting personal info worth the risk?

Learn why choosing against the encryption of personal info in your SQL Server database can leave your organization vulnerable to certain compliance issues.

SQL Server 2005 - Hacking password Encryption

Part 2 of this article discusses how to hack/de-cipher the data that has been encrypted by passphrase.