public static String encodePassword(final String password) {
        if (password == null) {
            return null;
        }
        return encodePassword(password.toCharArray());
    }
public static String encodePassword ( final String password ) { if ( password == null ) { return null ; } return encodePassword ( password . toCharArray ( ) ) ; }
Encodes/obfuscates a password. Although this does not prevent actual
hacking of password, it does remove the obvious threats of having
passwords stored as clear text.

@param password
@return a String containing the encoded password