diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 26454a27941c..b2a4ab3432b1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ Watch our [video on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHGKvadapbA) to get
 ## Requirements
 
 * PHP >= 5.5.9
-* MCrypt PHP Extension
 * MySQL
 
 ## Recommended Providers
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/AppController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/AppController.php
index 647ea7dd2eec..8740b6f9751c 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/AppController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/AppController.php
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class AppController extends BaseController
                 // legacy fix: check cipher is in .env file
                 if ( ! env('APP_CIPHER')) {
                     $fp = fopen(base_path().'/.env', 'a');
-                    fwrite($fp, "\nAPP_CIPHER=rijndael-128");
+                    fwrite($fp, "\nAPP_CIPHER=AES-256-CBC");
                     fclose($fp);
                 }
 
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 9bb37aa66315..6081e25184bc 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
     ],
     "require": {
         "php": ">=5.5.9",
-        "ext-mcrypt": "*",
         "ext-gmp": "*",
         "ext-gd": "*",
         "turbo124/laravel-push-notification": "dev-laravel5",
diff --git a/composer.lock b/composer.lock
index 5b4b89fc0542..6dedb59bfc59 100644
--- a/composer.lock
+++ b/composer.lock
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
         "Read more about it at https://getcomposer.org/doc/01-basic-usage.md#composer-lock-the-lock-file",
         "This file is @generated automatically"
     ],
-    "hash": "5268e0c573a4094ea670e2eb7555b962",
-    "content-hash": "cf263546eb8ba91f81f26bdc5470573e",
+    "hash": "7e547dba71449ade427b93dc8b108e0f",
+    "content-hash": "c05b529acf38d8dd1ab5452432e67887",
     "packages": [
         {
             "name": "agmscode/omnipay-agms",
@@ -10716,7 +10716,6 @@
     "prefer-lowest": false,
     "platform": {
         "php": ">=5.5.9",
-        "ext-mcrypt": "*",
         "ext-gmp": "*",
         "ext-gd": "*"
     },