Connection string special characters (no replies)

I have a visual studio Windows form programme that I connect to a MySQL database. I recently updated the server and now it wants special characters in the password. The problem I have is when the connection string is passed to the database the special characters through an error. I have connected to the database via and ODBC connection in excel, so I know my connection string works its just when Visual Studio 2019 sends it to the server that something goes wrong. I have no idea how to solve this one. I am using the latest MySQL.data.dll. The password has a * character in it. I have tried other characters with no success.

I writing my programme in vb, but I have tried the connection string builder to no effect. I am using vsto 2019. I have updated the mysql.data.dll to the latest (8.2.0.0). The database is MariaDB 10. The project is a Windows Forms Application with .NET framework 4.8.

When I pass the connection string with a special character in the password I get the following error message: 'Object cannot be cast from DBNull to other types.'.

When I pass the connection string with the special character removed (as a test really) I get the following error message: 'Authentication to host 'xx.x.xxx.xx' for user 'SDJ' using method 'mysql_native_password' failed with message: Access denied for user 'SDJ'@'xx.x.xxx.xx' (using password: YES)'

I can connect to the database using an ODBC connection via excel, so its something to do with how vsto is passing the password during connection.