How Do I Pass Credentials to a Web Service that Uses Basic Authentication?

When you're working with Web Services that require authentication, you'll need a way to pass credentials. This snippet shows you how to pass a user name and password to a Web Service that is configured for Basic Authentication. 
using System.Net;
		
....
		
localhost.MyWebService myService = new localhost.MyWebService();

System.Net.CredentialCache myCredentials = new System.Net.CredentialCache();
NetworkCredential netCred = new NetworkCredential("UserName", "Password");
myCredentials.Add(new Uri(myService.Url), "Basic", netCred);
myService.Credentials = myCredentials;

// Now call methods on the myService object....


You should be aware that by using Basic Authentication the user name and password are sent as Base 64 encoded text. That is as secure as sending it as plain text, so the best way to use this authentication mechanism is in combination with SSL. This way, the data is encrypted and is save from prying eyes....


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Doc ID 363
Full URL https://imar.spaanjaars.com/363/how-do-i-pass-credentials-to-a-web-service-that-uses-basic-authentication
Short cut https://imar.spaanjaars.com/363/
Written by Imar Spaanjaars
Date Posted 02/26/2005 16:20
Date Last Reviewed 05/24/2006 20:32
Listened to when writing Jericho by The Prodigy (Track 1 from the album: Experience)

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