This is just a note to myself on how to Encrypt and Decrypt App.Config (or Web.Config if ASP.NET) in a Windows Application. Encryption: 1. Rename App.Config to Web.Config 2. %windir%\Microsoft.NET\Fram... -pef "connectionStrings" <Full Path to Web.Config> 3. Succeeded! implies Encryption was successful 4. Rename Web.Config to App.Config Descryption: 1. Rename App.Config to Web.Config 2. %windir%\Microsoft.NET\Fram... -pdf "connectionStrings"...