CryptoAPI

CryptoAPI, Microsoft cryptocgraphy API (application programming interface), provides services that enable devolopers to secure Windows-based applications using cryptography. It is a set of DLLs that provides an abstraction layer which isolates users from the code used to encrypt the data.

CryptoAPI supports both PKI and symmetric key cryptography. It includes functionality for encrypting and decrypting data and for authentication using digital certificates.

CryptoAPI works with a number of CSPs (Cryptography Service Providers) installed on the machine. CSPs are the modules that do the actual work of encoding and decoding data by performing the cryptographic functions.