The 128 bit refers to the key length supplied to an encrypting algorithm. There can be various key lengths used and they can be used with different algorithms. There is also the encryption algorithm itself that you must choose. The most popular ones are DES/3DES (now being phased out), AES, Blowfish, Twofish, and many more.

The encrypting of a file requires at minimum the choice of a key of a certain length and the encrypting algorithm. It can also become much more complicated by selecting symmetric or asymmetric encryption, the use of certificates, etc, etc.

First step would be to find out what algorithm and type of encryption the credit bureau require. Then you can investigate and choose a tool to help you do the job.

>At this point I am not sure about anything regarding this. I am going to have to encrypt files going to a credit bureau with 128bit encryption. Are there different varieties of this animal?