DES / 3DES / RC4 / Rabbit
Free online DES/3DES/RC4 encryption tool, processed locally
What are DES, 3DES, RC4, and Rabbit?
DES (Data Encryption Standard) is a legacy symmetric cipher using a 56-bit key. 3DES (Triple DES) applies DES three times for improved security. RC4 is a stream cipher once widely used in SSL/TLS. Rabbit is a fast stream cipher designed for software performance. All are legacy algorithms — use AES for new applications.
How to Use This Tool
Select the encryption algorithm, enter a key (password), and optionally an IV (initialization vector). Enter plaintext to encrypt or paste ciphertext to decrypt. Output can be in Hex or Base64 encoding.
▶Is DES still secure?
No. DES with its 56-bit key can be brute-forced in hours using modern hardware. It is kept in this tool for legacy compatibility and educational purposes. Use AES for any security-critical application.
▶What is 3DES and is it secure?
3DES applies the DES algorithm three times with different keys, providing 112 bits of effective security. While more secure than DES, it is deprecated by NIST as of 2023 due to performance and security limitations.
▶What is an IV (Initialization Vector)?
An IV is a random value used alongside the key to ensure that encrypting the same plaintext produces different ciphertexts. For DES and 3DES, the IV is 8 bytes. For RC4 and Rabbit, the IV is also 8 bytes.
▶Why should I use AES instead?
AES is faster, more secure, and the current standard for symmetric encryption. DES and 3DES are deprecated. RC4 has known vulnerabilities. Use AES for any new development.
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