Brave Software › Brave › Cryptography compliance policies
Prefer specific key exchange algorithms for TLS
Supported on Microsoft Windows 7 or later
What it does
This policy configures Brave to order its preferred key agreement algorithms (supported groups) in TLS 1.3 to reflect a preference for algorithms that have been approved by a specific compliance regime. Setting this policy does not guarantee that any specific algorithms will be negotiated. This policy exists to allow server operators who wish to support clients with and without compliance requirements to differentiate between those clients, and only use certain non-default algorithms with increased cryptographic strength for those explicitly configured to prefer them. Setting the policy to 'cnsa2' configures Brave to prefer key exchange methods required for compliance with the Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite 2.0 (CNSA 2.0). Not setting the policy, or setting it to 'default', configures Brave to use its default key exchange methods. Setting this policy is not required for security. The default cryptography used by Brave is strong enough to withstand a brute force attack using the entire power of the Sun. Setting this policy will cause Brave to be slower when accessing websites. This policy only affects TLS 1.3 and QUIC; it does not affect earlier versions of TLS. Example value: cnsa2
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prefer specific key exchange algorithms for TLS | Drop-down list | PreferSlowKexAlgorithms |
|
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · Computer · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"PreferSlowKexAlgorithms"="cnsa2"
PowerShell
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Prefer specific key exchange algorithms for TLS
# Name: PreferSlowKexAlgorithms
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: brave.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave' -Name 'PreferSlowKexAlgorithms' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'cnsa2'
- The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
- Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.
- The generated payload is incomplete because one or more ADMX element values were not supplied: PreferSlowKexAlgorithms
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_brave/PreferSlowKexAlgorithmsIntune remediation scripts
Detection
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()
function Test-RegistryValueExists {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}
function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
$valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
return $false
}
$actual = $valueObject.$Name
switch ($Kind) {
'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
'MultiString' {
$actualArray = @($actual)
$expectedArray = @($Expected)
if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
'Binary' {
$actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
$expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
}
}
# Policy: Prefer specific key exchange algorithms for TLS
# Name: PreferSlowKexAlgorithms
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: brave.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave' -Name 'PreferSlowKexAlgorithms' -Kind 'String' -Expected 'cnsa2'
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave\PreferSlowKexAlgorithms') | Out-Null
}
if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1
Remediation
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Prefer specific key exchange algorithms for TLS
# Name: PreferSlowKexAlgorithms
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: brave.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave' -Name 'PreferSlowKexAlgorithms' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'cnsa2'
History 44 retained releases
- 1.89.1328 Apr 2026
- Description
… it to 'default', configures Brave to use its default key exchange methods.
[removed: If this policy is set to a value that would configure Brave to prefer a post-quantum key agreement algorithm but PostQuantumKeyAgreementEnabled is Disabled, the setting of PostQuantumKeyAgreementEnabled takes precedence. ]Setting this policy is not required for security. The default cryptography used …Whole description, marked
This policy configures Brave to order its preferred key agreement algorithms (supported groups) in TLS 1.3 to reflect a preference for algorithms that have been approved by a specific compliance regime. Setting this policy does not guarantee that any specific algorithms will be negotiated. This policy exists to allow server operators who wish to support clients with and without compliance requirements to differentiate between those clients, and only use certain non-default algorithms with increased cryptographic strength for those explicitly configured to prefer them. Setting the policy to 'cnsa2' configures Brave to prefer key exchange methods required for compliance with the Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite 2.0 (CNSA 2.0). Not setting the policy, or setting it to 'default', configures Brave to use its default key exchange methods.
[removed: If this policy is set to a value that would configure Brave to prefer a post-quantum key agreement algorithm but PostQuantumKeyAgreementEnabled is Disabled, the setting of PostQuantumKeyAgreementEnabled takes precedence. ]Setting this policy is not required for security. The default cryptography used by Brave is strong enough to withstand a brute force attack using the entire power of the Sun. Setting this policy will cause Brave to be slower when accessing websites. This policy only affects TLS 1.3 and QUIC; it does not affect earlier versions of TLS. Example value: cnsa2
- Description
… it to 'default', configures Brave to use its default key exchange methods.
- 1.88.13214 Mar 2026
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
42 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
PreferSlowKexAlgorithms- Namespace
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave- Template file
brave.admx- Release
- Brave Browser 1.97.59 · file set
d6401efd8c1937d9…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.PreferSlowKexAlgorithms)" explainText="$(string.PreferSlowKexAlgorithms_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave" name="PreferSlowKexAlgorithms" presentation="$(presentation.PreferSlowKexAlgorithms)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:CryptographyCompliance" />
<supportedOn ref="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:SUPPORTED_WIN7" />
<elements>
<enum id="PreferSlowKexAlgorithms" valueName="PreferSlowKexAlgorithms">
<item displayName="$(string.PreferSlowKexAlgorithms_CNSA2_0)">
<value>
<string>cnsa2</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.PreferSlowKexAlgorithms_Default)">
<value>
<string>default</string>
</value>
</item>
</enum>
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="PreferSlowKexAlgorithms" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions"><dropdownList refId="PreferSlowKexAlgorithms">Prefer specific key exchange algorithms for TLS</dropdownList></presentation>Supported platforms and category
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:category:Cat_Brave
<category displayName="$(string.Cat_Brave)" name="Cat_Brave" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:category:CryptographyCompliance
<category displayName="$(string.CryptographyCompliance_group)" name="CryptographyCompliance" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:brave" />
</category>
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:category:brave
<category displayName="$(string.brave)" name="brave" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:Cat_Brave" />
</category>
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:category:Cat_Brave
<category displayName="$(string.Cat_Brave)" name="Cat_Brave" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:Cat_Brave">Brave Software</string></strings>
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:category:CryptographyCompliance
<category displayName="$(string.CryptographyCompliance_group)" name="CryptographyCompliance" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:brave" />
</category>
<strings><string id="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:CryptographyCompliance_group">Cryptography compliance policies</string></strings>
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:category:brave
<category displayName="$(string.brave)" name="brave" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:Cat_Brave" />
</category>
<strings><string id="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:brave">Brave</string></strings>
BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="BraveSoftware.Policies.Brave:SUPPORTED_WIN7">Microsoft Windows 7 or later</string></strings>