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January 24, 2022 11:02 am GMT

10 C Mistakes that DAMAGE Your Code (How to Avoid Them)

C#, the programming language that underlies Microsoft's.NET framework, has been around since 2002 and offers many advantages over languages like Java or C++. However, there are plenty of ways to mismanage your code using C#, and it pays to know about these pitfalls so you can avoid them in your own code. In this article, we'll talk about 10 common C# mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. C# Has Limitations

C# is not as robust as its alternatives. For example, you can't do overloading in C#. This means that if you have a class with two methods that share a name but take different parameters, those methods will be treated as separate functions.

Tip: Overloading makes your code easier to use but requires more flexibility from your programming language.

C# also lacks support for global variables you can only access local variables from within a function making it less than ideal for large applications with complex processes and data.

If you need these features, consider looking into other languages like Python or JavaScript instead of settling for an alternative framework or library for C#.

2. Make Use of the System.Reflection Class

The System.Reflectionclass is what we'll be making use of in order to find out if a particular library or framework has been loaded by.NET. You can simply instantiate a new instance of it by passing your application's assembly as an argument. Let's see an example:

var reflection = new System.Reflection(typeof(Program).Assembly);

After that, you can run one of its methods in order to find out if your library is currently being used. One method in particular that we will use here is its GetTypes() method which will let us know about all types defined within our assembly.

3. Choosing Bad Objects inCode

If you're just starting out with programming, it's not uncommon to use a variable that represents one type of object when in fact it's pointing at another. When you try to access its methods or properties, your program will crash. If you see an error stating cannot convert null into type object, for example, that means you tried accessing a method or property on a variable that isn't set in other words, one that points at nothing.

For example:

var name = Juan; // Bad - using an uninitialized variable!

4. Failure to Impose Limitations onClasses

One of most common mistakes when developing with C# is not imposing limitations on classes. What I mean by that is that you should always decide what your class can do ahead of time, as opposed to adding new abilities later.

Once you've defined a class, it will be difficult or impossible to change its behavior without redesigning it from scratch and that's rarely practical or worth it. This can lead to an unmaintainable codebase where it's extremely difficult for developers working on different parts of an application to understand how one part interacts with another.

5. Not Understanding When Objects AreCreated

C# is a managed language. That means you can use objects without worrying about their memory management. However, it also means that there are limitations on what you can do with them.

The problem is that those limitations aren't always clear because C# doesn't give you any indicators for when objects are created or destroyed. If you don't know when an object has been created, it's easy to overwrite its properties or mess up its reference variables in code somewhere down the line, which can lead to all sorts of problems like crashes and data corruption.

Tip: To avoid these issues, learn how to recognize situations where objects are being created so that you can ensure your code has a consistent set of references.

6. Creating an Overly General Class/Method

One common mistake is creating a class or method that's too general. This can happen when developers are new to C# because they aren't familiar with using inheritance effectively.

Generally, classes/methods should only be as general as they need to be; anything more than that is a waste of your time (and everyone else's).

Keep in mind that if you follow object-oriented programming concepts, everything should have its own class. In other words, don't make single methods do more than one thing create a different method for each task if it helps.

7. Exposing Too Much Information About anObject

Exposed properties can make it easy for a hacker to figure out how an object works. When you expose internal details of your application, you're making yourself vulnerable.

To avoid exposing too much about your objects, consider using properties that have private setters or constructors. You should also hide classes behind abstractions like interfaces as much as possible. You never know when someone might be trying to reverse engineer your code or write plugins for it, so take precautions now rather than later.

Note: Keeping things hidden ensures that even if someone does break in, they won't be able to do much damage.

8. Unprotected Memory Access Vulnerabilities in.NET Applications

A research team at CVE Details found several memory safety vulnerabilities in.NET Framework applications written in C#, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat (plugins, add-ons and extensions).

These types of issues could allow an attacker to bypass operating system security permissions or a sandbox security mechanism. In order to effectively address these types of issues, organizations must prioritize testing their.NET applications for vulnerabilities.

9. Use Safe, Well-Known Libraries WheneverPossible

It's understandable that a programmer would be tempted to write their own code for common tasks instead of reaching for an off-the-shelf solution. After all, if you have 20 years of experience in building enterprise applications, it can be hard to recognize when a newer library is going to give you 80% of what you need with 20% of the work.

However, it's much safer (and certainly more efficient) to use a well-known library whenever possible. Your time is valuable! So why spend it reinventing solutions other people have already solved? This can save hours or even days in development, especially on large projects.

10. Don't Write Your Own Encryption Algorithms

This one is a no-brainer: if you need secure encryption, just use an existing algorithm instead of writing your own. It's easier said than done in some cases; for example, if you're working with cloud storage, it can be tricky to install third-party security software on your servers.

Even if you do manage to get a reliable third-party library running properly, it might not have all of the features you need.

Tip: I recommend the following article to surprise you with how easy it is to decompile and modify a.NET Application

How to Crack a .NET Application

For example, it might lack authentication or might leave hardcoded data exposed in memory after decryption. In situations like these, writing your own cryptography implementation can make sense but even then, resist writing your own algorithms!

Tip: Use an obfuscator. A C# or.NET Obfuscator is a tool that makes a program's code harder to read, but allows it to work. This makes the program more secure. It makes it harder to crack, decompile, or reverse engineer the code because the most important parts of the code are hidden so deeply that it is hard to figure out which parts of the application are important.

I personally like Shield, it is a clear example of an obfuscator apart from being Cloud, constantly updated, with Visual Studio integration and more.

I recommend anyone who develops in.NET to try it because it has a very complete free version (and if you want maximum protection, its prices are cheap).


Original Link: https://dev.to/dotnetsafer/10-c-mistakes-that-damage-your-code-how-to-avoid-them-225j

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