What is RC4?
Q: What is RC4?
A: RC4 (also known as ARC4 or ARCFOUR meaning Alleged RC4) is a software stream cipher used in popular protocols like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and WEP.
Q: Who created RC4?
A: RC4 was created by Ron Rivest of RSA Security in 1987.
Q: How did the algorithm become public?
A: The algorithm became public when it was posted to the Cypherpunks mailing list in September 1994, and then spread to many websites on the Internet.
Q: Is RC4 trademarked?
A: Yes, the name "RC4" is trademarked.
Q: What are two reasons why it has been widely used?
A: The two main reasons which have helped its use over such a big range of applications are its speed and simplicity. Uses of RC4 in both software and hardware are extremely easy to develop.
Q: How does the encryption algorithm work?
A: The encryption algorithm starts with a different key length, usually between 40 and 256 bits, using the key-scheduling algorithm (KSA). Once this has been completed, the stream of encrypted bits is created using the pseudo-random generation algorithm (PRGA).
Q: Is RC4 considered secure for new applications?
A: No, because there are many methods of attacking it, so it is not recommended for use in new applications.
