diff --git a/core/java/src/com/nettgryppa/security/HashCash.java b/core/java/src/com/nettgryppa/security/HashCash.java
index 3f3a85f7a5..fccf86ded1 100644
--- a/core/java/src/com/nettgryppa/security/HashCash.java
+++ b/core/java/src/com/nettgryppa/security/HashCash.java
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import java.security.SecureRandom;
 import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
 import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException; 
 
+import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
+
 /**
  * Class for generation and parsing of <a href="http://www.hashcash.org/">HashCash</a><br>
  * Copyright 2006 Gregory Rubin <a href="mailto:grrubin@gmail.com">grrubin@gmail.com</a><br>
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ public class HashCash implements Comparable<HashCash> {
   	    myExtensions = deserializeExtensions(parts[index++]);
   	    
   	    MessageDigest md = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA1");
-  	    md.update(cash.getBytes());
+  	    md.update(DataHelper.getUTF8(cash));
   	    byte[] tempBytes = md.digest();
   	    int tempValue = numberOfLeadingZeros(tempBytes);
   	    
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ public class HashCash implements Comparable<HashCash> {
         serializeExtensions(extensions) + ":";
         result.myToken = generateCash(prefix, value, md);
         md.reset();
-        md.update(result.myToken.getBytes());
+        md.update(DataHelper.getUTF8(result.myToken));
         result.myValue = numberOfLeadingZeros(md.digest());
         break;
       
@@ -294,7 +296,7 @@ public class HashCash implements Comparable<HashCash> {
       counter++;
       temp = prefix + Long.toHexString(counter);
       md.reset();
-      md.update(temp.getBytes());
+      md.update(DataHelper.getUTF8(temp));
       bArray = md.digest();
       tempValue = numberOfLeadingZeros(bArray);
     } while ( tempValue < value);
diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/client/naming/EepGetAndAddNamingService.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/client/naming/EepGetAndAddNamingService.java
index d7ab373560..25a65c5320 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/client/naming/EepGetAndAddNamingService.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/client/naming/EepGetAndAddNamingService.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Locale;
 
 import net.i2p.I2PAppContext;
+import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 import net.i2p.data.Destination;
 
 /**
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ public class EepGetAndAddNamingService extends EepGetNamingService {
                         try {
                             fos = new FileOutputStream(f, true);
                             String line = hostname + '=' + rv.toBase64() + System.getProperty("line.separator");
-                            fos.write(line.getBytes());
+                            fos.write(DataHelper.getASCII(line));
                         } catch (IOException ioe) {
                             System.err.println("Error appending: " + ioe);
                         } finally {
diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/Base32.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/Base32.java
index 8270aa9328..704c79312e 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/Base32.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/Base32.java
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public class Base32 {
     private static void runApp(String args[]) {
         String cmd = args[0].toLowerCase(Locale.US);
         if ("encodestring".equals(cmd)) {
-            System.out.println(encode(args[1].getBytes()));
+            System.out.println(encode(DataHelper.getUTF8(args[1])));
             return;
         }
         InputStream in = System.in;
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ public class Base32 {
      *  @param source if null will return ""
      */
     public static String encode(String source) {
-        return (source != null ? encode(source.getBytes()) : "");
+        return (source != null ? encode(DataHelper.getUTF8(source)) : "");
     }
 
     /**
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ public class Base32 {
      * @return decoded data, null on error
      */
     public static byte[] decode(String s) {
-        return decode(s.getBytes());
+        return decode(DataHelper.getASCII(s));
     }
 
     private final static byte[] dmask = { (byte) 0xf8, (byte) 0x7c, (byte) 0x3e, (byte) 0x1f,
diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyFile.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyFile.java
index b77fd13500..7559db7d7d 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyFile.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyFile.java
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ public class PrivateKeyFile {
         hcs = hcs.substring(0, end1) + hcs.substring(start2);
         System.out.println("Short Hashcash is: " + hcs);
 
-        c.setPayload(hcs.getBytes());
+        c.setPayload(DataHelper.getUTF8(hcs));
         return c;
     }
     
diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/HexDump.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/HexDump.java
index 9765f3317b..69adacf7c2 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/HexDump.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/HexDump.java
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ public class HexDump {
                 }
             }
 
-            out.write(" |".getBytes());
+            out.write(DataHelper.getASCII(" |"));
 
             for (i = 0; i < FORMAT_BYTES_PER_ROW; ++i) {
                 if (i >= nextbytes) {
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/datagram/DatagramTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/datagram/DatagramTest.java
index 92a8e0b666..7063113247 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/datagram/DatagramTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/datagram/DatagramTest.java
@@ -43,15 +43,15 @@ public class DatagramTest extends TestCase {
         I2PSession session = client.createSession(new ByteArrayInputStream(out.toByteArray()), null);
 
         I2PDatagramMaker dm = new I2PDatagramMaker(session);
-        byte[] dg = dm.makeI2PDatagram("What's the deal with 42?".getBytes());
+        byte[] dg = dm.makeI2PDatagram(DataHelper.getASCII("What's the deal with 42?"));
 
         I2PDatagramDissector dd = new I2PDatagramDissector();
         dd.loadI2PDatagram(dg);
         byte[] x = dd.getPayload();
-        assertTrue(DataHelper.eq(x, "What's the deal with 42?".getBytes()));
+        assertTrue(DataHelper.eq(x, DataHelper.getASCII("What's the deal with 42?")));
 
         x = dd.extractPayload();
-        assertTrue(DataHelper.eq(x, "What's the deal with 42?".getBytes()));
+        assertTrue(DataHelper.eq(x, DataHelper.getASCII("What's the deal with 42?")));
 
         assertEquals(d, dd.getSender());
         assertEquals(d, dd.extractSender());
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class DatagramTest extends TestCase {
         ByteArrayOutputStream dout = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
         d.writeBytes(dout);
         dsaEng.sign(Hash.FAKE_HASH.toByteArray(), session.getPrivateKey()).writeBytes(dout);
-        dout.write("blah".getBytes());
+        dout.write(DataHelper.getASCII("blah"));
 
         byte[] data = dout.toByteArray();
         I2PDatagramDissector dd = new I2PDatagramDissector();
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/impl/I2PSessionTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/impl/I2PSessionTest.java
index 14fbab6763..769a4a058c 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/impl/I2PSessionTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/client/impl/I2PSessionTest.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import net.i2p.client.I2PClientFactory;
 import net.i2p.client.I2PSession;
 import net.i2p.client.I2PSessionException;
 import net.i2p.client.I2PSessionListener;
+import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 import net.i2p.data.Destination;
 
 
@@ -66,10 +67,10 @@ public class I2PSessionTest extends TestCase implements I2PSessionListener{
         _s.add("c");
         _s.add("d");
         
-        session.sendMessage(d, "a".getBytes());
-        session.sendMessage(d, "b".getBytes());
-        session.sendMessage(d, "c".getBytes());
-        session.sendMessage(d, "d".getBytes());
+        session.sendMessage(d, DataHelper.getASCII("a"));
+        session.sendMessage(d, DataHelper.getASCII("b"));
+        session.sendMessage(d, DataHelper.getASCII("c"));
+        session.sendMessage(d, DataHelper.getASCII("d"));
         
         for(int i = 0; (i < 20)&&(!_s.isEmpty()); i++){
             Thread.sleep(1000);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AES256Bench.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AES256Bench.java
index c5e718d477..59c4a342be 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AES256Bench.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AES256Bench.java
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public class AES256Bench {
         System.out.println("Standard test D(E(value)) == value? " + same);
         if (!same) throw new RuntimeException("moo");
         
-        plain = "1234567890123456".getBytes();
+        plain = DataHelper.getASCII("1234567890123456");
         e = new byte[plain.length];
         _context.aes().encrypt(plain, 0, e, 0, key, iv, plain.length);
         d = new byte[e.length];
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStream.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStream.java
index 09446b2222..c489cae7cf 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStream.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStream.java
@@ -287,9 +287,9 @@ public class AESInputStream extends FilterInputStream {
         log.setMinimumPriority(Log.DEBUG);
         byte orig[] = new byte[1024 * 32];
         RandomSource.getInstance().nextBytes(orig);
-        //byte orig[] = "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine".getBytes();
+        //byte orig[] = DataHelper.getASCII("you are my sunshine, my only sunshine");
         SessionKey key = KeyGenerator.getInstance().generateSessionKey();
-        byte iv[] = "there once was a".getBytes();
+        byte iv[] = DataHelper.getASCII("there once was a");
 
         for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
             runTest(ctx, orig, key, iv);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStreamTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStreamTest.java
index 961dad91c4..716aa6ef09 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStreamTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/AESInputStreamTest.java
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import net.i2p.util.RandomSource;
 public class AESInputStreamTest extends TestCase {
     public void testMultiple() throws Exception{
         SessionKey key = KeyGenerator.getInstance().generateSessionKey();
-        byte iv[] = "there once was a".getBytes();
+        byte iv[] = DataHelper.getASCII("there once was a");
         
         int[] sizes = {1024 * 32, 20, 3, 0};
         
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public class AESInputStreamTest extends TestCase {
         RandomSource.getInstance().nextBytes(orig);
         
         SessionKey key = KeyGenerator.getInstance().generateSessionKey();
-        byte iv[] = "there once was a".getBytes();
+        byte iv[] = DataHelper.getASCII("there once was a");
         
         ByteArrayOutputStream origStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream(512);
         AESOutputStream out = new AESOutputStream(ctx, origStream, key, iv);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/ElGamalTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/ElGamalTest.java
index 2bb886338b..46b5da7b6d 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/ElGamalTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/ElGamalTest.java
@@ -136,11 +136,11 @@ public class ElGamalTest extends TestCase{
         System.arraycopy(h.getData(), 0, iv, 0, 16);
         
         String msg = "Hello world01234012345678901234501234567890123450123456789012345";
-        h = SHA256Generator.getInstance().calculateHash(msg.getBytes());
+        h = SHA256Generator.getInstance().calculateHash(DataHelper.getASCII(msg));
         
-        byte aesEncr[] = new byte[msg.getBytes().length];
+        byte aesEncr[] = new byte[DataHelper.getASCII(msg).length];
         byte aesDecr[] = new byte[aesEncr.length];
-        _context.aes().encrypt(msg.getBytes(), 0, aesEncr, 0, sessionKey, iv, aesEncr.length);
+        _context.aes().encrypt(DataHelper.getASCII(msg), 0, aesEncr, 0, sessionKey, iv, aesEncr.length);
         _context.aes().decrypt(aesEncr, 0, aesDecr, 0, sessionKey, iv, aesEncr.length);
         h = SHA256Generator.getInstance().calculateHash(aesDecr);
         
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ public class ElGamalTest extends TestCase{
         
         String msg = "Hello world";
         
-        byte encrypted[] = _context.elGamalAESEngine().encryptAESBlock(msg.getBytes(), sessionKey, iv, null, null, 64);
+        byte encrypted[] = _context.elGamalAESEngine().encryptAESBlock(DataHelper.getASCII(msg), sessionKey, iv, null, null, 64);
         Set<SessionTag> foundTags = new HashSet<SessionTag>();
         SessionKey foundKey = new SessionKey();
         byte decrypted[] = null;
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ public class ElGamalTest extends TestCase{
         SessionKey key = _context.sessionKeyManager().getCurrentKey(pubKey);
         if (key == null)
             key = _context.sessionKeyManager().createSession(pubKey);
-        byte[] encrypted = _context.elGamalAESEngine().encrypt(msg.getBytes(), pubKey, key, 64);
+        byte[] encrypted = _context.elGamalAESEngine().encrypt(DataHelper.getASCII(msg), pubKey, key, 64);
         byte[] decrypted = null;
         try{
             decrypted = _context.elGamalAESEngine().decrypt(encrypted, privKey);
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ public class ElGamalTest extends TestCase{
         PrivateKey priv = (PrivateKey)keypair[1];
 
         for (int i = 0; i < UNENCRYPTED.length; i++) { 
-            byte orig[] = UNENCRYPTED[i].getBytes();
+            byte orig[] = DataHelper.getASCII(UNENCRYPTED[i]);
 
             byte encrypted[] = _context.elGamalEngine().encrypt(orig, pub);
             byte decrypted[] = _context.elGamalEngine().decrypt(encrypted, priv);
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ public class ElGamalTest extends TestCase{
             byte enc[] = Base64.decode(ENCRYPTED[i]);
             byte decrypted[] = _context.elGamalEngine().decrypt(enc, priv);
 
-            assertTrue(DataHelper.eq(decrypted, UNENCRYPTED[i].getBytes()));
+            assertTrue(DataHelper.eq(decrypted, DataHelper.getASCII(UNENCRYPTED[i])));
         }
     }
     
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ public class ElGamalTest extends TestCase{
                 for (int j = 0; j < 5; j++)
                     tags.add(new SessionTag(true));
             }
-            byte encrypted[] = e.encrypt("blah".getBytes(), pubKey, sessionKey, tags, 1024);
+            byte encrypted[] = e.encrypt(DataHelper.getASCII("blah"), pubKey, sessionKey, tags, 1024);
             byte decrypted[] = e.decrypt(encrypted, privKey);
             assertEquals("blah", new String(decrypted));
                 
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/HMACSHA256Bench.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/HMACSHA256Bench.java
index 11981c985a..dd5ff0b9e8 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/HMACSHA256Bench.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/HMACSHA256Bench.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ package net.i2p.crypto;
 import java.util.Properties;
 
 import net.i2p.I2PAppContext;
+import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 import net.i2p.data.Hash;
 import net.i2p.data.SessionKey;
 
@@ -74,12 +75,12 @@ public class HMACSHA256Bench {
 		for (int x = 0; x < 2*1024; x++) {
 			buf.append("a");
 		}
-		byte[] mmess = buf.toString().getBytes(); // new String("abcdbcdecdefdefgefghfghighijhijkijkljklmklmnlmnomnopnopq").getBytes();
+		byte[] mmess = DataHelper.getASCII(buf.toString()); // new String("abcdbcdecdefdefgefghfghighijhijkijkljklmklmnlmnomnopnopq").getBytes();
 		buf = new StringBuilder();
 		for (int x = 0; x < 10000; x++) {
 			buf.append("a");
 		}
-		byte[] lmess = buf.toString().getBytes();
+		byte[] lmess = DataHelper.getASCII(buf.toString());
 
 		// warm up the engines
         ctx.hmac().calculate(key, smess);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Bench.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Bench.java
index 0988fde34f..fc9ccc2211 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Bench.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Bench.java
@@ -29,11 +29,12 @@ package net.i2p.crypto;
  * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
 
+import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 import net.i2p.data.Hash;
 
 public class SHA256Bench {
 	public static void main(String args[]) {
-		Hash asdfs = SHA256Generator.getInstance().calculateHash("qwerty".getBytes());
+		Hash asdfs = SHA256Generator.getInstance().calculateHash(DataHelper.getASCII("qwerty"));
 			
 		int times = 100;
 		long shorttime = 0;
@@ -56,17 +57,17 @@ public class SHA256Bench {
 		long minLong1 = 0;
 		long maxLong1 = 0;
         
-		byte[] smess = new String("abc").getBytes();
+		byte[] smess = DataHelper.getASCII(new String("abc"));
 		StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder();
 		for (int x = 0; x < 10*1024; x++) {
 			buf.append("a");
 		}
-		byte[] mmess = buf.toString().getBytes(); // new String("abcdbcdecdefdefgefghfghighijhijkijkljklmklmnlmnomnopnopq").getBytes();
+		byte[] mmess = DataHelper.getASCII(buf.toString()); // new String("abcdbcdecdefdefgefghfghighijhijkijkljklmklmnlmnomnopnopq").getBytes();
 		buf = new StringBuilder();
 		for (int x = 0; x < 1000000; x++) {
 			buf.append("a");
 		}
-		byte[] lmess = buf.toString().getBytes();
+		byte[] lmess = DataHelper.getASCII(buf.toString());
         
 		// warm up the engines
 		SHA256Generator.getInstance().calculateHash(smess);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Test.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Test.java
index fd612b5d0f..3dc78b078c 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Test.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/crypto/SHA256Test.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ package net.i2p.crypto;
  
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
 import net.i2p.I2PAppContext;
+import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 import net.i2p.data.Hash;
 /**
  * @author Comwiz
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ public class SHA256Test extends TestCase{
      * Check if the behaviour remains the same.
      */
     public void testMultipleEquality(){
-        byte[] data = "blahblah".getBytes();
+        byte[] data = DataHelper.getASCII("blahblah");
 
         Hash firstHash = SHA256Generator.getInstance().calculateHash(data);
 
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/Base64Test.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/Base64Test.java
index fc7dbea215..b8c57db00d 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/Base64Test.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/Base64Test.java
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import junit.framework.TestCase;
 public class Base64Test extends TestCase{
     public void testBase64(){
         String orig = "you smell";
-        String encoded = Base64.encode(orig.getBytes());
+        String encoded = Base64.encode(DataHelper.getASCII(orig));
         byte decoded[] = Base64.decode(encoded);
         String transformed = new String(decoded);
         assertTrue(orig.equals(transformed));
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/DataStructureImplTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/DataStructureImplTest.java
index f0d30f5eef..b03cac488a 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/DataStructureImplTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/DataStructureImplTest.java
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public class DataStructureImplTest extends TestCase{
     public void testErrors() throws Exception{
         boolean error = false;
         try{
-            _struct.fromByteArray("water is poison".getBytes());
+            _struct.fromByteArray(DataHelper.getASCII("water is poison"));
         }catch(DataFormatException dfe){
             error = true;
         }
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PayloadTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PayloadTest.java
index 143c794b3b..074f4691d9 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PayloadTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PayloadTest.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ package net.i2p.data;
         Payload payload = new Payload();
         SessionKey key = (SessionKey)(new SessionKeyTest()).createDataStructure();
         
-        byte data[] = "Hello, I2P".getBytes();
+        byte data[] = DataHelper.getASCII("Hello, I2P");
         // This causes equals() to fail unless we override the test
         // to set the unencrypted data after reading.
         // Unencrypted data is deprecated, just use encrypted data for the test.
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyTest.java
index 9d25fb449a..f2581b3d1a 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PrivateKeyTest.java
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public class PrivateKeyTest extends StructureTest {
     
     public void testShortRead() throws Exception{
         PrivateKey privateKey = new PrivateKey();
-        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream("six times nine equals forty-two".getBytes());
+        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream(DataHelper.getASCII("six times nine equals forty-two"));
         boolean error = false;
         try{
             privateKey.readBytes(in);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PublicKeyTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PublicKeyTest.java
index 8fed332bd5..4e404a9555 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PublicKeyTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/PublicKeyTest.java
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public class PublicKeyTest extends StructureTest {
     
     public void testShortRead() throws Exception{
         PublicKey publicKey = new PublicKey();
-        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream("six times nine equals forty-two".getBytes());
+        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream(DataHelper.getASCII("six times nine equals forty-two"));
         boolean error = false;
         try{
             publicKey.readBytes(in);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPrivateKeyTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPrivateKeyTest.java
index baa038812d..4ccfc10c93 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPrivateKeyTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPrivateKeyTest.java
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public class SigningPrivateKeyTest extends StructureTest {
     
     public void testShortRead() throws Exception{
         SigningPrivateKey signingPrivateKey = new SigningPrivateKey();
-        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream("short".getBytes());
+        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream(DataHelper.getASCII("short"));
         boolean error = false;
         try{
             signingPrivateKey.readBytes(in);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPublicKeyTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPublicKeyTest.java
index b97099e6e2..1e5718b42a 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPublicKeyTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/data/SigningPublicKeyTest.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class SigningPublicKeyTest extends StructureTest {
     
     public void testShortRead() throws Exception{
         SigningPublicKey publicKey = new SigningPublicKey();
-        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream("six times nine equals forty-two".getBytes());
+        ByteArrayInputStream in = new ByteArrayInputStream(DataHelper.getASCII("six times nine equals forty-two"));
         boolean error = false;
         try{
             publicKey.readBytes(in);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/stat/RateTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/stat/RateTest.java
index 45d9278a81..2fbca7eb41 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/stat/RateTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/stat/RateTest.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package net.i2p.stat;
 
 import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
 import java.util.Properties;
+import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ public class RateTest extends TestCase {
         StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder(1024);
         
         rate.store("rate.test", buf);
-        byte data[] = buf.toString().getBytes();
+        byte data[] = DataHelper.getUTF8(buf.toString());
 
         Properties props = new Properties();
         props.load(new ByteArrayInputStream(data));
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPInputStreamTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPInputStreamTest.java
index d78166654f..d4ea56708b 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPInputStreamTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPInputStreamTest.java
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public class ResettableGZIPInputStreamTest extends TestCase {
             
         }
         
-        byte orig[] = "ho ho ho, merry christmas".getBytes();
+        byte orig[] = DataHelper.getASCII("ho ho ho, merry christmas");
         ByteArrayOutputStream baos = new ByteArrayOutputStream(64);
         GZIPOutputStream o = new GZIPOutputStream(baos);
         o.write(orig);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java
index 58c2dd9ee3..37cad3f3e8 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ResettableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 
 public class ResettableGZIPOutputStreamTest extends TestCase {
     public void testResettableGZIPOutputStream() throws Exception{
-        byte b[] = "hi, how are you today?".getBytes();
+        byte b[] = DataHelper.getASCII("hi, how are you today?");
         ByteArrayOutputStream baos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
         ResettableGZIPOutputStream o = new ResettableGZIPOutputStream(baos);
         o.write(b);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPInputStreamTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPInputStreamTest.java
index 7f10a25fa3..ec3ad7a483 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPInputStreamTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPInputStreamTest.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 public class ReusableGZIPInputStreamTest extends TestCase {
     public void testReusableGZIPInputStream() throws Exception{
         {
-            byte b[] = "hi, how are you today?".getBytes();
+            byte b[] = DataHelper.getASCII("hi, how are you today?");
             ByteArrayOutputStream baos = new ByteArrayOutputStream(64);
             GZIPOutputStream o = new GZIPOutputStream(baos);
             o.write(b);
diff --git a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java
index b48d267fe5..537108e138 100644
--- a/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java
+++ b/core/java/test/junit/net/i2p/util/ReusableGZIPOutputStreamTest.java
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import net.i2p.data.DataHelper;
 public class ReusableGZIPOutputStreamTest extends TestCase {
     public void testReusableGZIPOutputStream() throws Exception{
         {
-            byte b[] = "hi, how are you today?".getBytes();
+            byte b[] = DataHelper.getASCII("hi, how are you today?");
             ReusableGZIPOutputStream o = ReusableGZIPOutputStream.acquire();
             o.write(b);
             o.finish();