If you don't really understand encryption and aren't using a well validated library, then you shouldn't be using encryption at all.

i could not disagree more. IMHO, the less you know about encryption, the more you should use it -- how else is one to learn about it and how it works? don't get me wrong - i'm all for using those libraries that work, rather than reinventing the wheel. but if you learn better by breaking things and/or tinkering than by example, then by all means use what you can get your hands on.

and frankly, if someone can't read past the disclaimers that the author placed, they deserve what falls on their heads. (yes, i'm a firm believer in Darwinism.)

strfry()