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RC4 Encryption Algorithm: C# Version

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25 Sep 20033 min read 385.7K   21.6K   79   56
C# version of RC4 encryption algorithm.

Introduction

The security of data has become a recurrent topic in computer science. I think all software developers in their careers have to study that topic. I always keep informed about that, and I apply various kind of algorithms into the several applications customers ask me to develop.

One of the algorithms I frequently use is the RC4.

RC4 is a stream cipher symmetric key algorithm. It was developed in 1987 by Ronald Rivest and kept as a trade secret by RSA Data Security. On September 9, 1994, the RC4 algorithm was anonymously posted on the Internet on the Cyperpunks’ “anonymous remailers” list.

RC4 uses a variable length key from 1 to 256 bytes to initialize a 256-byte state table. The state table is used for subsequent generation of pseudo-random bytes and then to generate a pseudo-random stream which is XOR-ed with the plaintext to give the cipher text. Each element in the state table is swapped at least once.

The RC4 key is often limited to 40 bits, because of export restrictions but it is sometimes used as a 128 bit key. It has the capability of using keys between 1 and 2048 bits. RC4 is used in many commercial software packages such as Lotus Notes and Oracle Secure SQL. It is also part of the Cellular Specification.

I’ve noticed that nobody provided a C# version of RC4 algorithm, so I’ve done it.

Algorithm description

The RC4 algorithm works in two phases:

  1. key setup
  2. ciphering.

Key setup

Key setup is the first and most difficult phase of this algorithm. During a N-bit key setup (N being your key length), the encryption key is used to generate an encrypting variable using two arrays, state and key, and N-number of mixing operations. These mixing operations consist of swapping bytes, modulo operations, and other formulae.

In the attached project you can see how I do it in the EncryptionKey set property of RC4Engine class.

Chiphering phase

Once the encrypting variable is produced from the key setup, it enters the ciphering phase, where it is XOR-ed with the plain text message to create an encrypted message. XOR is the logical operation of comparing two binary bits. If the bits are different, the result is 1. If the bits are the same, the result is 0. Once the receiver gets the encrypted message, he decrypts it by XOR-ing the encrypted message with the same encrypting variable.

In the attached project you can see how I do it in the RC4Engine class:

  • Encrypt: encript method
  • Decrypt: decript method

I want to remark that the cripted message comes decrypted using the algorithm used in the encryption phase.

How does the application work?

The front-end layout is the following:

Sample screenshot

You can:

  1. Enter in In Clear Text Box, a text that has maximum 32767 characters
  2. Click the Encrypt button that appears after you have filled the In Clear Text Box.
  3. To verify the Crypted Text Box you can click the Decrypt button that appears at the end of the encryption process.

 

You can also modify the encryption key but make sure to use it for both encrypting and decrypting the text.


Written By
Web Developer
Italy Italy
I'm a senior software engineer specialized in data access ( odbc, oledb and .net ), resource dispensers and security software development.
My favourite programming languages are C#, C++.NET, C++ and Java. I'm used also to work with MFC, ATL, STL, lex & yacc and regular expressions.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralRe: License, copyright and attribution terms Pin
Simone Spagna12-Aug-09 5:51
Simone Spagna12-Aug-09 5:51 
GeneralAnother implementation Pin
Alexander Müller25-Jul-09 6:11
Alexander Müller25-Jul-09 6:11 
GeneralRe: Another implementation Pin
Member 737877118-Dec-10 12:13
Member 737877118-Dec-10 12:13 
Generalc# code for RSA algorithm Pin
eng_m23-Mar-09 10:47
eng_m23-Mar-09 10:47 
GeneralRC4 for encrypting files Pin
drweb864-Oct-08 0:32
drweb864-Oct-08 0:32 
GeneralRe: RC4 for encrypting files Pin
drweb864-Oct-08 1:18
drweb864-Oct-08 1:18 
GeneralA comment about the algorithm Pin
Roaa Mohammed28-Apr-08 23:37
Roaa Mohammed28-Apr-08 23:37 
GeneralRe: A comment about the algorithm Pin
Veener15-May-09 3:21
Veener15-May-09 3:21 
QuestionRC4 va PIC microcontroller 16F877X Pin
devoice24-Sep-07 9:19
devoice24-Sep-07 9:19 
QuestionUnicode characters ? Pin
user_205-Mar-07 16:18
user_205-Mar-07 16:18 
GeneralDoesn't work Pin
Delete_Me_Mukul22-Mar-06 11:45
Delete_Me_Mukul22-Mar-06 11:45 
GeneralRe: Doesn't work Pin
Simone Spagna21-Feb-07 0:39
Simone Spagna21-Feb-07 0:39 
GeneralRe: Doesn't work Pin
Veener15-May-09 3:22
Veener15-May-09 3:22 
GeneralThanks Pin
User 117202124-Dec-05 5:08
User 117202124-Dec-05 5:08 
QuestionA bug? Pin
AntoninoLuis23-Oct-05 23:23
AntoninoLuis23-Oct-05 23:23 
AnswerRe: A bug? Pin
Simone Spagna21-Feb-07 0:47
Simone Spagna21-Feb-07 0:47 
GeneralMany Thanks Pin
Dick Walker4-Oct-05 14:01
Dick Walker4-Oct-05 14:01 
GeneralRC4? (encryption) Pin
RC4 craxy22-Jun-05 13:36
sussRC4 craxy22-Jun-05 13:36 
GeneralRe: RC4? (encryption) Pin
Ri Qen-Sin7-Aug-06 4:13
Ri Qen-Sin7-Aug-06 4:13 
GeneralI want code encript password Pin
lethanhdaobk14-Jun-05 0:47
lethanhdaobk14-Jun-05 0:47 
GeneralRe: I want code encript password Pin
Ri Qen-Sin18-Jan-07 7:14
Ri Qen-Sin18-Jan-07 7:14 
Generalhave a proble to encrypt files like bmp,gif,doc Pin
shekharamle28-Mar-05 20:49
shekharamle28-Mar-05 20:49 
QuestionHow I can save and load the encrypted text ? Pin
Anonymous20-Feb-05 10:21
Anonymous20-Feb-05 10:21 
AnswerRe: How I can save and load the encrypted text ? Pin
Seemu21-Jul-05 3:49
Seemu21-Jul-05 3:49 
GeneralRe: How I can save and load the encrypted text ? Pin
Zedoc29-Nov-05 0:10
Zedoc29-Nov-05 0:10 

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