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Friday, June 18, 2010

Best Free Hash Utility

Best Free Hash Utility


Introduction

Hashing is the process of computing a fixed-length message digest from a data stream usually for the purpose of validating, authenticating, or digitally signing that stream.  The stream could be a disk file, an email message, or packets of data in network transport.  Hashing is not encryption because the message digest cannot readily be transformed back into the original data from which it was computed.  Instead, hashing is a mechanism for representing a block of data in a predictable way by the use of a standard, public algorithm.

 
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  Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide.

Quick Selection Guide

HashTab    Rating 7 of 10

Pros   Works in a tab of the Windows Explorer file property page.  Computes hashes for fifteen algorithms including all of those described above.  Allows direct comparison of any hash that can be pasted in thus obviating the need for error prone visual comparison.  Provides a file comparison feature that permits direct hash comparisons with another file.  This is useful except as noted below.  HashTab is available for both Windows (except 9x, NT, and 2k) and Mac OSX.
Cons   The file comparison feature could have been done better.  It only compares the file against the first hash in the list, and there is no easy way to get it to use another. You have to remove all hashes that come before the one you want to use and then find the file to compare.  If you change the selected algorithms after a file has been selected for comparison, the file name field is blanked out so that you have to get the file again.  Does not work (tab is missing) when multiple files are selected.
Developer Home Page   http://beeblebrox.org
Download link   http://beeblebrox.org
File Size   780KB   Version 3.0   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements WinXP or greater; Mac OSX

Nirsoft HashMyFiles    Rating 9 of 10

Pros   Full-scale Windows application. Computes hashes for individual files, multiple files, or entire file systems. Can compare files to hashes in the clipboard as well as to other selected files. Highlights duplicate files when an entire file system is loaded. Hooks into Explorer context menu for quick access to the program window. Can minimize to the system tray. Can create an HTML report of results as well as result files in various formats. Column list is customizable.
Cons   Only MD5 and SHA1 algorithms are computed. Behavior problems with later versions of Windows. Match highlights are in very pale colors that may be difficult to see on some monitors.
Developer Home Page   http://www.nirsoft.net
Download link   http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/hash_my_files.html
File Size   49.9KB   Version 1.67   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements No install program to run.
Info   No software installation program. Just download and run.

Febooti Freeware Hash & CRC    Rating 5 of 10

Pros   Works in a tab of the Windows Explorer file property page. Computes hashes with fifteen different algorithms including those described above. It is easy to change hash selections and recompute. If multiple files are selected, it is possible to switch between the selected files to compute hashes for each one.  There is a simple mechanism for copying computed hashes to the clipboard.
Cons   No comparison feature. To check computed hashes against another file, you must compute the hashes for each file separately, paste the results into a text document, and then visually compare them.
Developer Home Page   http://www.febooti.com
Download link   http://www.febooti.com/products/filetweak/members/hash-and-crc
File Size   782KB   Version 3.0   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Windows only.
64 Bit version available   64 Bit version available

Microsoft File Checksum Integrity Verifier

Pros   Can be used to create a database of computed hashes and revalidate against it.
Cons   Only MD5 and SHA1 algorithms are supported. Only works in a command window.  The program's options are difficult to understand and use effectively, and the help provided is of limited usefulness as it has some inaccuracies.
Developer Home Page   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=b3c93558-31b7-47e2-a663-7365c1686c08
Download link   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=b3c93558-31b7-47e2-a663-7365c1686c08
File Size   116KB   Version 2.05   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements No install program to run.
Info   No software installation program. Just download and run. Program is listed for information purposes and is not rated.


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