Lesson plan
RC algorithm
The RC algorithms are a set of symmetric-key encryption algorithms invented by Ron Rivest. The "RC" may stand for either Rivest's cipher or, more informally, Ron's code. Despite the similarity in their names, the algorithms are for the most part unrelated. There have been six RC algorithms so far: *RC1 was never published. *RC2 was a 64-bit block cipher developed in 1987. *RC3 was broken before ever being used. *RC4 is a stream cipher. *RC5 is a 32/64/128-bit block cipher developed in 1994. *RC6, a 128-bit block cipher based heavily on RC5, was an AES finalist developed in 1997.
Article summary
The RC algorithms are a set of symmetric-key encryption algorithms invented by Ron Rivest. The "RC" may stand for either Rivest's cipher or, more informally, Ron's code. Despite the similarity in their names, the algorithms are for the most part unrelated. There have been six RC algorithms so far: *RC1 was never published. *RC2 was a 64-bit block cipher developed in 1987. *RC3 was broken before ever being used. *RC4 is a stream cipher. *RC5 is a 32/64/128-bit block cipher developed in 1994. *RC6, a 128-bit block cipher based heavily on RC5, was an AES finalist developed in 1997.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.