diff --git a/Crypto Notepad/ChangeKeyForm.cs b/Crypto Notepad/ChangeKeyForm.cs
index 06eab98..0fa250a 100644
--- a/Crypto Notepad/ChangeKeyForm.cs	
+++ b/Crypto Notepad/ChangeKeyForm.cs	
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ public ChangeKeyForm()
 
         private async void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
-            if (textBox1.Text == publicVar.encryptionKey & textBox1.Text != textBox2.Text)
+            if (textBox1.Text == publicVar.encryptionKey.Get() & textBox1.Text != textBox2.Text)
             {
-                publicVar.encryptionKey = textBox2.Text;
+                publicVar.encryptionKey.Set(textBox2.Text);
                 publicVar.keyChanged = true;
                 textBox1.Text = "";
                 textBox2.Text = "";
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ private async void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
                 return;
             }
 
-            if (textBox1.Text != publicVar.encryptionKey)
+            if (textBox1.Text != publicVar.encryptionKey.Get())
             {
                 SystemSounds.Beep.Play();
                 statusLabel.Text = "Invalid old key!";
diff --git a/Crypto Notepad/Crypto Notepad.csproj b/Crypto Notepad/Crypto Notepad.csproj
index cea71f0..873edd1 100644
--- a/Crypto Notepad/Crypto Notepad.csproj	
+++ b/Crypto Notepad/Crypto Notepad.csproj	
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
     <Compile Include="CustomRichTextBox.Designer.cs">
       <DependentUpon>CustomRichTextBox.cs</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
+    <Compile Include="EncryptedString.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Form1.cs">
       <SubType>Form</SubType>
     </Compile>
diff --git a/Crypto Notepad/EncryptedString.cs b/Crypto Notepad/EncryptedString.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e304c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Crypto Notepad/EncryptedString.cs	
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+
+namespace Crypto_Notepad
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Stores a string encrypted in memory to defend against memory dumps
+    /// </summary>
+    class EncryptedString
+    {
+        private TripleDES des = TripleDESCryptoServiceProvider.Create();
+        private byte[] encryptedString = null;
+
+        public EncryptedString(string String)
+        {
+            this.des.GenerateIV();
+            this.des.GenerateKey();
+            this.Set(String);
+        }
+
+        public EncryptedString()
+        {
+            this.des.GenerateIV();
+            this.des.GenerateKey();
+        }
+
+        public string Get()
+        {
+            if (this.encryptedString == null) return null;
+            var decryptor = this.des.CreateDecryptor();
+            byte[] output = decryptor.TransformFinalBlock(this.encryptedString, 0, this.encryptedString.Length);
+            return Encoding.Default.GetString(output);
+        }
+
+        public void Set(string String)
+        {
+            var encryptor = this.des.CreateEncryptor();
+            byte[] str = Encoding.Default.GetBytes(String);
+            this.encryptedString = encryptor.TransformFinalBlock(str, 0, str.Length);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Crypto Notepad/Form1.cs b/Crypto Notepad/Form1.cs
index a0a363f..304ad5d 100644
--- a/Crypto Notepad/Form1.cs	
+++ b/Crypto Notepad/Form1.cs	
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void DecryptAES()
             {
                 string opnfile = File.ReadAllText(OpenFile.FileName);
                 string NameWithotPath = Path.GetFileName(OpenFile.FileName);
-                string de = AES.Decrypt(opnfile, publicVar.encryptionKey, ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
+                string de = AES.Decrypt(opnfile, publicVar.encryptionKey.Get(), ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
                 customRTB.Text = de;
 
                 this.Text = appName + NameWithotPath;
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ private void openAsotiations()
                 }
                 publicVar.okPressed = false;
 
-                string de = AES.Decrypt(opnfile, publicVar.encryptionKey, ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
+                string de = AES.Decrypt(opnfile, publicVar.encryptionKey.Get(), ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
                 customRTB.Text = de;
 
                 this.Text = appName + NameWithotPath;
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ private void saveAsToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
             int saveCaret = customRTB.SelectionStart;
             string NameWithotPath = Path.GetFileName(OpenFile.FileName);
-            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(publicVar.encryptionKey))
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(publicVar.encryptionKey.Get()))
             {
                 Form2 Form2 = new Form2();
                 Form2.ShowDialog();
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ private void saveAsToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
             filename = SaveFile.FileName;
 
             string noenc = customRTB.Text;
-            string en = AES.Encrypt(customRTB.Text, publicVar.encryptionKey, ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
+            string en = AES.Encrypt(customRTB.Text, publicVar.encryptionKey.Get(), ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
 
             customRTB.Text = en;
             StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter(filename);
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ private void saveToolStripMenuItem1_Click_1(object sender, EventArgs e)
             }
 
             string noenc = customRTB.Text;
-            string en = AES.Encrypt(customRTB.Text, publicVar.encryptionKey, ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
+            string en = AES.Encrypt(customRTB.Text, publicVar.encryptionKey.Get(), ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
 
             customRTB.Text = en;
             StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter(filename);
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ private void deleteFileToolStripMenuItem_Click_1(object sender, EventArgs e)
                     {
                         File.Delete(filename);
                         customRTB.Clear();
-                        publicVar.encryptionKey = "";
+                        publicVar.encryptionKey.Set(null);
                         pictureBox6.Enabled = false;
                         pictureBox7.Enabled = false;
                         pictureBox11.Enabled = false;
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ private void MainWindow_Activated(object sender, EventArgs e)
                 customRTB.Modified = true;
             }
 
-            if (publicVar.encryptionKey == "")
+            if (publicVar.encryptionKey.Get() == null)
             {
                 pictureBox6.Enabled = false;
                 pictureBox7.Enabled = false;
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ private void MainWindow_Activated(object sender, EventArgs e)
                 pictureBox13.Enabled = false;
             }
 
-            if (publicVar.encryptionKey != "")
+            if (publicVar.encryptionKey.Get() != null)
             {
                 pictureBox6.Enabled = true;
                 pictureBox7.Enabled = true;
@@ -736,13 +736,13 @@ private void documentationToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 
         private void сервисToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
-            if (publicVar.encryptionKey == "")
+            if (publicVar.encryptionKey.Get() == null)
             {
                 changeKeyToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = false;
                 lockToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = false;
             }
 
-            if (publicVar.encryptionKey != "")
+            if (publicVar.encryptionKey.Get() != null)
             {
                 changeKeyToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = true;
                 lockToolStripMenuItem.Enabled = true;
@@ -911,7 +911,7 @@ void AutoLock(bool minimize)
         {
             saveToolStripMenuItem1_Click_1(this, new EventArgs());
             Form2 f2 = new Form2();
-            publicVar.encryptionKey = "";
+            publicVar.encryptionKey.Set(null);
             caretPos = customRTB.SelectionStart;
             f2.MinimizeBox = true;
             this.Hide();
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ void AutoLock(bool minimize)
 
             if (publicVar.okPressed == false)
             {
-                publicVar.encryptionKey = "";
+                publicVar.encryptionKey.Set(null);
                 customRTB.Clear();
                 this.Text = appName.Remove(14);
                 OpenFile.FileName = "";
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ void AutoLock(bool minimize)
                 OpenFile.FileName = filename;
                 string opnfile = File.ReadAllText(OpenFile.FileName);
                 string NameWithotPath = Path.GetFileName(OpenFile.FileName);
-                string de = AES.Decrypt(opnfile, publicVar.encryptionKey, ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
+                string de = AES.Decrypt(opnfile, publicVar.encryptionKey.Get(), ps.TheSalt, ps.HashAlgorithm, ps.PasswordIterations, ps.KeySize);
 
                 this.Text = appName + NameWithotPath;
                 filename = OpenFile.FileName;
@@ -956,7 +956,7 @@ void AutoLock(bool minimize)
                 }
                 if (dialogResult == DialogResult.Cancel)
                 {
-                    publicVar.encryptionKey = "";
+                    publicVar.encryptionKey.Set(null);
                     customRTB.Clear();
                     this.Text = appName.Remove(14);
                     OpenFile.FileName = "";
@@ -972,7 +972,7 @@ protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
             const int WM_SYSCOMMAND = 0x112;
             const int SC_MINIMIZE = 0xF020;
 
-            if (m.Msg == WM_SYSCOMMAND && m.WParam.ToInt32() == SC_MINIMIZE && ps.AutoLock == true && publicVar.encryptionKey != "")
+            if (m.Msg == WM_SYSCOMMAND && m.WParam.ToInt32() == SC_MINIMIZE && ps.AutoLock == true && publicVar.encryptionKey.Get() != null)
             {
                 AutoLock(true);
                 return;
diff --git a/Crypto Notepad/Form2.cs b/Crypto Notepad/Form2.cs
index 8b1bfaa..bd36d6a 100644
--- a/Crypto Notepad/Form2.cs	
+++ b/Crypto Notepad/Form2.cs	
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public Form2()
 
         private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
-            publicVar.encryptionKey = textBox1.Text;
+            publicVar.encryptionKey.Set(textBox1.Text);
             textBox1.Focus();
             textBox1.Text = "";
             publicVar.okPressed = true;
diff --git a/Crypto Notepad/Program.cs b/Crypto Notepad/Program.cs
index ef59121..1563cd7 100644
--- a/Crypto Notepad/Program.cs	
+++ b/Crypto Notepad/Program.cs	
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ static void Main()
 
     static class publicVar
     {
-        public static string encryptionKey = "";
+        public static EncryptedString encryptionKey = new EncryptedString();
         public static bool keyChanged = false;
         public static bool settingsChanged = false;
         public static bool okPressed = false;