diff --git a/minimal_auth.py b/minimal_auth.py
index 9f535a7..e3d96e2 100644
--- a/minimal_auth.py
+++ b/minimal_auth.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import getpass # hides types characters, very useful
 import json
 import sys
+import hashlib # python standard lib for hashing
 
 def get_credentials():
     username = input('Enter your username: ')
@@ -11,7 +12,9 @@ def authenticate(username, password, pwdb):
     return password == pwdb[username]
 
 def add_user(username, pwdb):
-    pwdb[username] = getpass.getpass(f'Enter password for {username}: ')
+    password = getpass.getpass(f'Enter password for {username}: ')
+    # hash the password before saving to the database
+    pwdb[username] = hashlib.sha256(f'{password}'.encode()).hexdigest()
     return pwdb
 
 def read_pwdb(pwdb_path):