Basically, when your database stores data, it stores it in a way such that it can be read by anyone with the specialized software, I believe it is a sector editor, and the time to root thru your hard drive until they find your database data. I have used a text editor that enabled me to root thru a hard drive reading the data.
Encryption simply scrambles the values stored on the hard drive so that they can no longer be read by someone with the specialized software.
Be aware that there is a performance hit, as the data must be decrypted for ordinary use and then re-encrypted when stored on the hard drive.
Frank kegley
fkegley@hotmail.com