How to Securely Hash and Compare a User's Security Code in Django

Learn the best practices for hashing and comparing security codes in Django without compromising user data privacy.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Save a field as hash and compare it in django

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Securely Hash and Compare a User's Security Code in Django

When developing a user authentication system, it’s essential to ensure that user data is handled securely, especially sensitive information like security codes. Many developers face the dilemma of how to implement a system where users can log in using both passwords and security codes without compromising security. In this guide, we will explore how to create a custom user model in Django that allows users to log in with a security code in a secure manner.

The Challenge

Imagine a situation where a user wants to log in using a security code that has been sent to their phone via SMS. You need a way to:

Generate a random security code.

Hash the security code before saving it to the database.

Compare the hashed security code with what the user enters without exposing the actual code.

Example User Model

You might have created a user model similar to the following:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this scenario, the goal is to avoid storing the security code as plain text for security reasons.

The Solution

1. Hashing the Security Code

To hash the security code, we can use Django's built-in make_password function. This function creates a hashed version of the security code, making it much harder for attackers to access sensitive information.

Here’s how you would implement it in your CustomUser model:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Overriding the Check Password Method

Next, you need to implement the logic for checking passwords and security codes. This is done by overriding the check_password method found in the AbstractBaseUser class.

The overridden method should:

First check if the input matches the user’s password.

If it doesn’t match, compare it against the hashed security code provided just recently (within a defined timeframe).

Here’s a potential implementation:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

3. Implementing the Logic in Your View

In your view, ensure that you generate a security code, save the hashed version, and then compare it when the user inputs their code.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By securely hashing the security codes in your Django application and implementing a robust authentication mechanism, you can enhance the security of your user authentication system. Remember that protecting user data is paramount, and leveraging Django's tools like make_password and check_password can significantly assist you in achieving this goal.

If you're encountering any issues or have questions about implementing this, feel free to leave a comment below!