Paper 2014/315

Statistical weaknesses in 20 RC4-like algorithms and (probably) the simplest algorithm free from these weaknesses - VMPC-R

Bartosz Zoltak

Abstract

We find statistical weaknesses in 20 RC4-like algorithms including the original RC4, RC4A, PC-RC4 and others. This is achieved using a simple statistical test. We found only one algorithm which was able to pass the test - VMPC-R. This algorithm, being approximately three times more complex then RC4, is probably the simplest RC4-like cipher capable of producing pseudo-random output.

Note: Typing. "RC-4" was changed to "RC4"