//add this function to the users_controller.php
function convertPasswords()
{
if(!empty( $this->data['User']['new_passwd'] ) ){
$this->data['User']['new_passwd'] = $this->Auth->password($this->data['User']['new_passwd'] );
}
if(!empty( $this->data['User']['confirm_passwd'] ) ){
$this->data['User']['confirm_passwd'] = $this->Auth->password( $this->data['User']['confirm_passwd'] );
}
}