I need to make a desktop application that stores data, I want this data to protected, and besides, the user shouldn't have to install any data-servers (i.e. SQL-Server, office etc.).
I thought XML would be the best idea, the question is how can I protect the data whilst enjoying the other cool features of it which is XML literals and XLinq (VB.NET is the love of my life).
UPDATE:
It's important for me the users shouldn't know I am using an external tool.
Any ideas on this or other approaches would be appreciated.
Have you considered SQLite? It can be bundled with your app as a DLL and a data file - nothing else needed.
EDIT: It's been a while, but I believe that there's also an embedded version of Firebird. Never used it though.