Final answer:
The RC4 cipher is known to have inherent weaknesses and vulnerabilities. AES is one of the most popular alternatives to RC4.
Step-by-step explanation:
The RC4 cipher is a symmetric encryption algorithm that has been widely used in various cryptographic protocols. However, it is known to have inherent weaknesses and vulnerabilities that make it susceptible to attacks. Examples of RC4 being broken include the WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) protocol used in Wi-Fi networks, where RC4 was found to have serious vulnerabilities and easily breakable.
When it comes to alternatives to RC4, one of the most popular choices is the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). AES is a symmetric encryption algorithm that is widely considered to be secure and has been adopted by many organizations and industries. It has replaced RC4 in most modern cryptographic applications.
Other encryption algorithms mentioned in the options, such as DES (Data Encryption Standard) and Blowfish, are also alternatives to RC4 but are not as commonly used or considered as secure as AES. RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), on the other hand, is a widely used asymmetric encryption algorithm that is not directly comparable to RC4 as it serves a different purpose.