Galvanic protection of steel is provided by means of coupling thereto of ternary alloys of Al/2.5 to 4% wt. Mg, 0.5 to 3.5% wt. Si, and Al/2.5-4% wt. Mg, 0.5 to 3.5% wt. Ge with teachings of steel having either alloy coupled thereto, as well as the alloys per se. Also, a technique for determining alloys useful for the cathodic protection is presented including determining the critical cathodic protection potential for steel and the galvanic current and corrosion potential for candidate alloy compositions followed by coupling to the steel of one such alloy composition whose determined corrosion potential is lower than the critical corrosion potential for the steel in the corrosive environment in which protection is sought.