App Config Encryption in VB.net

Hello All,

I have search to net on how can I encrypt my App.config that I created in VB Winform.

What I`m expecting is that when I view the App.Config file in the Application Folder I should not be able to view the Database user and Password but, it does not seems to be working.

Here is my App Config Code.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <configSections>
    <section name="Vault"
             type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHeader"/>
    <sectionGroup name="applicationSettings"
                  type="System.Configuration.ApplicationSettingsGroup, System,
                  Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
      <section name="EncrpytOracle_Connection"
               type="System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection, System,
                    Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a561934e089"
               requirePermission="false"/>
    </sectionGroup>
  </configSections>

  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="Oracle_Connection" connectionString="Driver=Microsoft ODBC for Oracle;uid=SOMEID;pwd=SOMEPWD;server=SOMEDB"/>
  </connectionStrings>
    <system.diagnostics>
        <sources>
            &lt!-- This section defines the logging configuration for My.Application.Log -->
            <source name="DefaultSource" switchName="DefaultSwitch">
                <listeners>
                    <add name="FileLog"/>
                    &lt!-- Uncomment the below section to write to the Application Event Log -->
                    &lt!--<add name="EventLog"/>-->
                </listeners>
            </source>
        </sources>
        <switches>
            <add name="DefaultSwitch" value="Information" />
        </switches>
        <sharedListeners>
            <add name="FileLog"
                 type="Microsoft.VisualBasic.Logging.FileLogTraceListener, Microsoft.VisualBasic, Version=8.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a, processorArchitecture=MSIL" 
                 initializeData="FileLogWriter"/>
            &lt!-- Uncomment the below section and replace APPLICATION_NAME with the name of your application to write to the Application Event Log -->
            &lt!--<add name="EventLog" type="System.Diagnostics.EventLogTraceListener" initializeData="APPLICATION_NAME"/> -->
        </sharedListeners>
    </system.diagnostics>
</configuration>

As you can see in my connection string DB user Name, Password and Server is visible.

How do I encrypt it?

Please also check the my Class for decryption.

Imports System.Configuration

Public Class Protection
    Private m_section As String


    Public Sub New(ByVal section As String)
        If String.IsNullOrEmpty(section) Then _
            Throw New ArgumentNullException("ConfigurationSection")

        m_section = section
    End Sub


    Public Sub Protection()
        Dim config As Configuration = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

        Dim ProtectedSection As ConfigurationSection = config.GetSection(m_section)

        If ((ProtectedSection IsNot Nothing) _
            AndAlso (Not ProtectedSection.IsReadOnly) _
            AndAlso (Not ProtectedSection.SectionInformation.IsProtected) _
            AndAlso (Not ProtectedSection.SectionInformation.IsLocked) _
            AndAlso (ProtectedSection.SectionInformation.IsDeclared)) Then
            ProtectedSection.SectionInformation.ProtectSection(Nothing)

            ProtectedSection.SectionInformation.ForceSave = True
            config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Full)
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

This is actually my 1st time to use app config encryption.

Can someone kindly give me an advice.

Thank you.