rfc2898

I was wondering if anyone have tried to do an equivalent of Rfc2898DeriveBytes key = new Rfc2898DeriveBytes(secret, saltValueBytes); byte[] secretKey = key.GetBytes(16); in Java. Where secret is a string(password), and saltValueBytes is, well, a salt in byte array. I've tried stuff, but can't seem to wrap my head around it. I found this implementation by means of a Google search but I have never used it. A free Java implementation of RFC 2898 / PKCS#5 PBKDF2 There seems to be no small and freely available Java implementation of RFC 2898 / PKCS#5 available. Small as in only a few source files,

What is the difference between using Rfc2898DeriveBytes and just using Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(string object); ? I have had relative success with either approach, the former is a more long winded approach where as the latter is simple and to the point. Both seem to allow you to do the same thing eventually but I am struggling to the see the point in using the former over the latter. The basic concept I have been able to grasp is that you can convert string passwords into byte arrays to be used for e.g a symmetric encryption class, AesManaged . Via the RFC class but you get to use salt values