How do I Enable Digest Authentication in IIS on Windows 11?

Authenticate Clients by sending a password hash to a Windows Domain Controller

Vigneshwaran Vijayakumar November 9, 2024Last Updated: November 6, 2024

0 30 3 minutes read

Enable Digest Authentication in IIS on Windows 11: It is based on the MD5 hashing algorithm, which ensures passwords aren’t sent in plaintext over the network. Instead, it transmits an encrypted hash, which helps prevent certain types of attacks, such as replay attacks. It is primarily used to authenticate clients on networks that don’t use Kerberos. While Digest Authentication is more secure than Basic Authentication, it is considered less safe than Kerberos due to MD5’s vulnerability to hash-cracking attacks. However, some older web applications or intranet systems that haven’t been updated to support more advanced protocols like OAuth, OpenID Connect, etc might still use Digest Authentication. This article will guide you through how to Enable Digest Authentication in IIS on Windows 11.

Read This: 4 Easy Ways: How To Run Iis As Administrator On Windows 11

Key Steps:

Open Programs and Features using the run command appwiz.cpl

Click on Turn Windows Features on or off.

Expand Internet Information Services node and futher expand World Wide Web Services.

Finally, expand Security.

Under Security, Enable Digest Authentication by clicking on the checkbox next to it and click OK.

That is it. Digest Authentication for IIS Web Server is now enabled in your Windows 11 PC.

Directions to Digest Authentication in Windows 11

Let’s get started.

Go to the Run command using the keyboard shortcut Win Key + R.
Enter the following command appwiz.cpl and click OK. This command will open the Programs and Features window.

Open Programs and Features using appwiz.cpl

The Programs and Features window will open now. Here, you can find Turn Windows Features on or off option from the left pane.

Clicking on Turn Windows features on or off will open the Windows Features dialog. Here, you can find all the available optional features.
Locate Internet Information Services from the list of services available and expand the tree.

Now, you will find FTP, Web Management Tools, and World Wide Web Services. We have to expand the World Wide Web Services.

You will find various features such as Application Development Features, Common HTTP Features, Health and Diagnostics, etc. Expand the Security node.

You can find Digest Authentication there. Click on the checkbox next to it to enable it and click OK.

Enable Digest Authentication in Windows 11

Windows will now start searching for the required files.

Windows Searching for the required files

Then the system will apply the changes.

Click on Close to Close the window. If you are prompted for a Restart Now, then it is highly recommended to do a Restart right away.

Windows has completed the changes — Windows has completed the requested changes

How does Digest Authentication work?

Scenarios where Digest Authentication can be useful

Digest Authentication is a challenge-response authentication mechanism that verifies a user’s identity without sending their password in plain text. When a client requests access to a protected resource on a server, the server responds with a 401 Unauthorized status and then sends a challenge. The challenge can be a Nonce, a Realm, and more. Depending on the client’s response, the server will generate a final hash which is usually called Response Digest. This final hash is based on MD5, and becomes the authentication response and then sent to the server and processed.

Information on the Go: Kerberos is a network authentication protocol designed to provide strong authentication for client-server applications by using secret-key cryptography. It helps verify the identity of users and services in a secure manner, especially in a network environment, and is widely used in enterprise environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Digest Authentication secure?

While Digest Authentication is more secure than Basic Authentication, it is still vulnerable to certain types of attacks, particularly if MD5 hashes are cracked.

What are the limitations of Digest Authentication?

It relies on the MD5 hashing algorithm, which is vulnerable to hash-cracking attacks. It is not suitable for highly secure environments or those with sensitive data. It lacks flexibility and integration features provided by modern authentication protocols, such as single sign-on (SSO).

What are some alternatives to Digest Authentication?

Common alternatives include Kerberos (for secure, enterprise-level authentication), NTLM (used in Windows environments), OAuth, and SAML (for federated authentication, commonly used for web applications and SSO).

Check Out: How Can I Delete And Rebuild Indexing Options On Windows 11

Can Digest Authentication be used across different platforms?

Yes, Digest Authentication can be used in mixed-platform environments, as it is compatible with various operating systems.

Take away

While Digest Authentication in IIS on Windows 11 a step up from Basic Authentication, it has limitations due to the aging MD5 algorithm and is less secure than modern protocols like Kerberos. It’s best suited for environments where newer protocols aren’t an option, or when a simple, lightweight solution is enough. If you have any queries, kindly let us know in the comment section. For more interesting articles, visit Winsides.com. Happy Coding! Peace out!

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