its a 32bit integer thats over 10 times more than 3 bits, or is it a string? then its 3 bytes(1 byte for each char or 8bits for each char)... 3 chars times 8 bits = 24bit still along way off from 3bits
//edit
did'nt read page 2 of topic, so yeah 8 bits per char, NOT 24bits per char, unless you compiled it as a 64bit application then it would be 16bits per char or 2 bytes per char, which makes your encryption a 48bit deal.