sub encrypt_string {
    my $clear_string=shift;
    my ($prepend, $key ) = &_secret_vals();
    $key = pack( "H32", $key );
    my $cipher=new Crypt::CBC( $key, 'IDEA' );
    my $crypt_string=$cipher->encrypt_hex( $clear_string );
    return $crypt_string;
}