How can I hide or encrypt my vb.net source code?

[Yemata Abebe]

How can I hide or encrypt my vb.net source code?

'Example
Dim x , y , z as integer
x=1
y=2
z= x * y
Msgboxz)

Thanks in advance

[Rabbit]

Just zip it and password protect it. I believe 7zip can encrypt and password protect files.

[!NoItAll]

Um, Rabbit, I think he was asking about obfuscation, not zipping the source files...
Yemata - there are a number of products out there that will obfuscate your source before it is compiled. Obfuscated code is still source code that someone with enough patience and skill could make use of, but it can be very difficult for them.
Check out http://preemptive.com/products/dotfuscator/overview

[LogicNP]

Use an obfuscation tool

Use an obfuscation tool on your assemblies. Try Crypto Obfuscator which has code protection, encryption, compression, etc.

[Frinavale]

On top of obfusation, you can also use proper scope modifiers :)

[mreed1972]

is there obfuscation out there that is free or open source?

[Frinavale]

I think there's a version of it that comes with visual studio.