Security Issue for VB.net {RESOLVED}

[Nintendo_Wizard]

Can someone please be so kind to tell me the best way to encrypt/decrypt or make an .ini(config. file) and access database secure? I am using a .ini file to store user input and an access database as a Oledb. In order to change the .ini info the user has to use a password protected application manager. The crappy part is an .ini file could be open outside the application manager with notepad. I don't want the user to be able to open the .ini file or the access file without going through the application. Can anyone please help me???

Thanks.....the Nintendo_Wizard.

[Pirate]

look at these encryption and decryption Functions .worth a try.
use is with files , database of any kind , generally with all kind of plain text.

have fun !
Pirate

[Nintendo_Wizard]

pirate, much thanks! The encryption/decryption code works great! One other question for you. How do I change the file extension of the Access db that I am currently using in the application?

[Pirate]

by code or ...??

[Nintendo_Wizard]

Hey man. Yeah I would like to do it by code. What is the easiest way. This is my first time using access in an app. I thought about using a password but I would rather not add the code everytime I need to access the DB. If I could just change the file ext. and leave it that way it would be eaiser. I'm not concerned with a high level of security, there won't be any confidential data in the db. Thanks for all your help!!

[Pirate]

No need to change the ext to .mdb before running the app. (I've worked on this stuff in VB6 but don't know about VB.NET)I guess they'd be the same .

follow this path to change the ext.
Folder Option ---- View Tab ---- Uncheck the option entilted "Hide Extentions for unknown File types"

then you can change it.

[Nintendo_Wizard]

Your tip worked, but on second thought maybe changing the file ext isn't such a great idea. Unless you know of an .ext the will still be recognized as a DB, but can't be opened(only by app). do you know the syntax for opening a db with a password? I've tried before, but always get exceptions. i am using a oleDbdataAdapter not code to open the db not vb code. I know that when you use the wizard to establish an OleDbDataAdapter it gives you the option to set a password. I tried this and the exception said the the db was being used exclusively somewhere else. This db stuff gives me a headache!

[Pirate]

Well , when I would think of creating a proj that needs a DB , the first thing I'd do is changing the ext. to something related to the proj .I like making my db file vague.(only white icons in the folder)

anyways ,
before running the app that uses the db , close all connections to the db (if it's set to exclusive)

try to figure things out of this

another link