title: Is connecting MySQL and .net application via Internet a hazard?
body: <p>For a small project I need to store some data in MySQL. The users are located world wide and run a .net ClickOnce application. The data accessed are not really confidential and even if someone would get access this would not harm from the privacy perspective.</p>
  
  <p>Technically it is possible to have the MySQL database located on a server somewhere and have everybody connected via <a href="http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/net/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Connector/Net</a> <strong>over the internet. But is this advisable?</strong></p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Is the protocol stable / robust enough to handle even slow internet connections?</li>
  <li>Would this be a severe security risk. Encryption of the data is <strong>not</strong> a topic, but password encryption is. Would opening a MySql database (port) to the Internet be a hazard?</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Alternatively I could "wrap" the DB access via web services, or somehow else. But of course this is some overhead I'd like to avoid. So is connecting MySQL via Internet a valid option?</p>
  
  <p>Remarks:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>No duplicate of <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4749563/mysql-connection-with-vb-net-via-internet">MySQL connection with VB.NET via internet!</a></li>
  <li>SO <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10314937/connecting-to-the-database-via-the-internet">Connecting to the database via the internet</a> is less specific, and has no answer as of today.</li>
  </ul>