RC4 (3)

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NAME

RC4_set_key, RC4 - RC4 encryption

SYNOPSIS

 #include <openssl/rc4.h>

 void RC4_set_key(RC4_KEY *key, int len, const unsigned char *data);

 void RC4(RC4_KEY *key, unsigned long len, const unsigned char *indata,
          unsigned char *outdata);

DESCRIPTION

This library implements the Alleged cipher, which is described for example in Applied Cryptography. It is believed to be compatible with RC4[], a proprietary cipher of Security Inc.

is a stream cipher with variable key length. Typically, 128 bit (16 byte) keys are used for strong encryption, but shorter insecure key sizes have been widely used due to export restrictions.

consists of a key setup phase and the actual encryption or decryption phase.

RC4_set_key() sets up the

key using the len bytes long key at data.

() encrypts or decrypts the len bytes of data at indata using key and places the result at outdata. Repeated () calls with the same key yield a continuous key stream.

Since

is a stream cipher (the input is XORed with a pseudo-random key stream to produce the output), decryption uses the same function calls as encryption.

Applications should use the higher level functions EVP_EncryptInit(3) etc. instead of calling the

functions directly.

RETURN VALUES

RC4_set_key() and () do not return values.

NOTE

Certain conditions have to be observed to securely use stream ciphers. It is not permissible to perform multiple encryptions using the same key stream.

SEE ALSO

blowfish(3), des(3), rc2(3)

HISTORY

RC4_set_key() and () are available in all versions of SSLeay and OpenSSL.