5 Best Browsers that Support RC4 Encryption [Legacy Devices]

It can be a bit tricky to find out the right browser that still offers support for RC4, a stream cipher that is no longer supported by the major browsers.

RC4 was once widely supported by all major browsers and online services for encryption.

However, in 2015, Chrome, Edge, IE 11, and Firefox dropped support for this outdated technology.

But people using legacy devices still feel the need to run RC4 and hence, they have been looking for browsers that still support the encryption technology.

However, if you encounter a TLS error on your Windows 11 PC, our detailed post can help you fix the issue quickly.

Is RC4 outdated?

The original RC4 (Rivest Cipher 4) encryption used an outdated security technology that became increasingly vulnerable to attacks.

But, even after RC4 support was stopped, there were still many people using legacy devices like the old phones (Nokia 6210 classic), or older browsers like iCab, with RC4-based requests.

Hence, despite being outdated, encryption technology still remains prominent even in the current times.

Does TLS 1.2 support RC4?

Yes, TLS 1.2 supports RC4, because enabling it along with TLS 1.1 on servers and in browsers can alleviate the risk of BEAST attack.

But, if you fail to enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2, you can configure SSL to insist on RC4 ciphers than block-based ciphers.

Therefore, thanks to TLS 12. support, you can still enable the encryption in some browsers.

But, if you are wondering which browsers support RC4 ciphers, here we have a list of some of the best browsers where you can enable the feature.

What are the best browsers that support RC4?

Opera One – Powerful online privacy and security

When talking about secured browsing, the first name that pops into your mind is the Opera One browser.

Promising absolute privacy and security online, the browser offers one of the safest browsing experiences of all.

Therefore, when you think of enabling the RC4 encryption in Opera One, you can be assured that even with the deprecation, you can still be safe with the added browser security.

From blocking advertisements, or trackers to a free built-in VPN and easy access to privacy and security controls, the browser is a safe haven for all Opera One fans.

Its other major features include:

• Sidebar shortcuts for social media like Twitter, Instagram, etc.
• Allows to save web content in Pinboards
• Integrated messages for social media
• Floating videos on top of webpages
• Battery saver, data syncing, and crypto wallet

Opera One

Get the best browsing experience with advanced support for RC4 as well as tons of modern features.

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Google Chrome – Peace of mind with password checkup

Chrome is, hands down, the most popular browser still across the globe due to its features and the range of extensions.

The browser offers built-in security that keeps your data and browsing history protected from dangerous sites and malicious software.

Moreover, Chrome’s Password Checkup feature warns you of the vulnerable passwords and reminds you to change them often to avoid a data breach.

So, considering that Chrome is secure by default, you can enable RC4 on the browser without any worry.

Some of its other key features are:

• Site isolation, sandboxing, and predictive phishing protection
• Safety check for secured and private browsing
• Sync Chrome across devices
• Easy audio and video controls in tabs
• Separate accounts option with profiles

⇒ Get Google Chrome

Microsoft Edge – Enhanced privacy options

The next best browser in the list would be Microsoft Edge which can support RC4 and is known for offering improved security features.

Apart from its Super Duper Secure Mode which is an instant hit with the users, it also boasts the control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) and Arbitrary Code Guard (ACG).

Besides, it also supports both forward and backward control-flow protection which, in combination with the other security features can prevent JIT attacks and beyond.

Moreover, it also features browser sandboxing that safeguards your PC from the after-effects of browsing by blocking websites with malicious codes. 

Here are some of its other important features:

• Clear privacy options (Basic, Balanced, Strict)
• SmartScreen feature protects from phishing attacks
• Identifies and blocks known trackers
• Manage which extensions should be allowed
• Stay safe online with Password Monitor, InPrivate search, and Kids Mode

⇒ Get Microsoft Edge

Mozilla Firefox – Fast, lightweight, and privacy-focused

If you are looking for a browser that not just offers support for RC4 encryption, but is also fast and consumes fewer resources, Firefox can be a great choice.

While it offers extensions that are useful yet fun, it also offers a smooth experience by using only as much memory as required.

At the same time, it boasts a strong password management system that helps you create strong passwords for the complete protection of your accounts.

Best of all, you can also use containers to stay organized and keep trackers off while you are surfing the web.

Below are some of its other significant features:

• Blocks third-party trackers
• Private browsing for smaller digital footprints
• Firefox Monitor to stay protected from a data breach
• Syncs data easily across devices
• Prevent email exploitation with Firefox Relay

⇒ Get Mozilla Firefox

Apple Safari – iCloud Keychain for secure passwords

Safari is Apple’s proprietary browser that’s only available on Mac and its M1 chip brings a shared architecture for security.

From protecting your login credentials or ensuring file-level encryption to automatically encrypting your data, Safari boasts powerful security capabilities.

Talking about enabling RC4, TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2 are automatically enabled in Safari version 7 or beyond.

But, since RC4 is deprecated in iOS 10 and macOS 10.12, the services or apps that require RC4 should be upgraded to utilize secure cipher suites. 

Here are some of its other major features:

• Built-in antivirus with strong malware protection
• Stay in control of your data with app permissions
• Safe and secure data with FileVault 2
• Intelligent Tracking Prevention to detect and block trackers
• iCloud Keychain securing passwords across all devices

⇒ Get Apple Safari

What can I use instead of RC4?

Instead of RC4, you can use Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) which also provide built-in support for many RC4-based programs.

As an alternative to symmetric encryption, you can use a public key or asymmetric algorithm, where each user of the communicating parties has pair of keys (one private and one public key).

How do I enable RC4?

Fortunately, you can still enable the RC4 encryption technology in some of the major browsers due to the TLS 1.2 protocol and the supported cipher suites.

Here’s a list of the RC4 cipher suites that are supported in TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3:

If you are wondering how to check if RC4 is disabled, here’s how you can:

1. Press the Win + R keys together on your PC to launch the Run console.
2. Type regedit in the search bar and hit Enter.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the below path: HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Ciphers
4. Now, check that the RC4 40/128 does not exist. If it does, then go to the right side, and double-click on the Enabled entry.
5. This will open the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialog. Here, set the Value data field to 0. Press OK.
6. If you see other keys like RC4 56/128, RC4 64/128, and RC4 128/128 exist, then repeat steps 3 through 5 for them as well.

But if you want to enable RC4 in Chrome, Opera One

, Edge, and Firefox, you can follow the below instructions.

1. Enable RC4 in Chrome, Edge, and Opera One using Internet Options

1. Press the Win + R keys together to open the Run console.
2. In the search bar, type inetcpl.cpl and hit Enter to open the Internet Properties dialogue.
3. Here, go to the Advanced tab, and under Settings, scroll down to the Security field.
4. Now, check the boxes next to Use TLS 1.1 and Use TLS 1.2. Press Apply and then OK.

Your Chrome, Edge, or Opera One browsers are now compatible with the RC4 encryption.

NOTE

If your PC supports even the TLS 1.3 protocol, make sure to enable that as well.

2. Enable RC4 in Firefox through about:config

1. Open Firefox and navigate to the below path: about:config
2. Next, click on Accept the Risk and Continue.
3. Now, search for security.tls.version.min and change it to 0.
4. Next, look for security.tls.version.fallback-limit and change the value to 0.
5. Again, search for security.tls.unrestricted_rc4_fallback and set it to true.
6. Finally, look up security.tls.version.max and set the value to 3.

Now, your Firefox browser should support RC4 encryption.

If you are using a legacy device and you are in utter need to enable RC4 cipher, you can try the above methods to turn on the TLS protocols that help a browser support the feature.

Apart from that, it’s recommended to steer clear of the deprecated cipher suite to avoid any attacks or exploits.

But if you are looking for ways to enable TLS 1.2 on all Windows editions, you can refer to our detailed guide for more information.

For any other queries on TLS or SSL protocols or browsers, you can leave a message in the comments box below.