how to encypt data before i put in the db

i want to know what function to use to encrypt data before i store it in the database and decrypt the same when i read it.Pls its urgent...can someone help:confused: :confused:i want to know what function to use to encrypt data before i store it in the database and decrypt the same when i read it.Pls its urgent...can someone help:confused: :confused:

What type of data do you want to encrypt?Is it a password field or something else?|||its an integar field which i want to be encrypted in the database so that anyone who views the database is not able to view unless data is retrieven thru the program.|||You need to encrypt it before you insert it.

if you are running on windows, see the methods in System.Security.Cryptography (for managed code) and CryptoAPI for native code.

http://www.codeproject.com/system/icrypto.asp (example of how to use CryptoAPI in native code)

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/93bskf9z.aspx (managed code)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.security.cryptography.aspx|||If you are running SQL 2005 (which you probably ought to consider if this is a new application), there are encrypt/decrypt functions built right into the database. It's another option; but CryptoAPI will work as well.

Regards,

hmscott