Encryption/Decryption using SHA - 256 Algorithm

Question

How to decrypt a hashed string using SHA - 256 algorithm?

Code i used for encrypting as follows:

 byte[] data = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(plainMessage);
 HashAlgorithm sha = new SHA256Managed();
 byte[] encryptedBytes = sha.TransformFinalBlock(data, 0, data.Length);
 return Convert.ToBase64String(sha.Hash);

Thanks in advance
Kamal

Answer 1

Hasing and encryption are two different processes, hasing is a one way process once the data is hashed there is no way to recover the original data from the hash, you could see it as throwing a banana into a blender, you'll albe to determine it was a banana by looking at the goo thats left but you'll never be able to reconstruct the original banana. 

Answer 2

OOPS! I never thought that before. Thanks ray!

I like the way you have explained.

Then, What is the difference between Hashing and Encrytion?

Answer 3

See the links i gave you, encryption protects data from prying eyes, hashing creates a small (128/256 bit) fingerprint of a larger chunk of data.