Generating a unique *and* random URL in C#

Question

My ultimate goal is to create a URL that is unique and cannot be guessed/predicted. The purpose of this URL is to allow users to perform operations like verifying their email ad

Answer 1

Create a table in the database with a linkID and a Datesent column, on generation of the link send insert DateTime.Now into the table and return linkId, set the linkID as a querystring parameter on the activationLink.

On load of the activation page retrive the linkId and use it to evoke a stored procedure that will return the date when passed the corresponding linkId as a parameter, when you get the date back you can add how long you want the link to stay active by using the .AddDays()/.AddMonths (this are C# methods for datetime). Then compare the date you got back with today's date. If it has passed its length of days or months give an error message or else continue and display the page content.

I sugest you keep the contents of the page in a panel and and set it visible = "false" then only make the panel visible="true" if the date is still within range.