Best Free Hash Utility

Updated Wed, 06/16/2010 - 11:26 by Opus

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       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.   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.   http://beeblebrox.org   http://beeblebrox.org   780KB    3.0    Unrestricted Freeware    WinXP or greater; Mac OSX Nirsoft HashMyFiles       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.   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.   http://www.nirsoft.net   http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/hash_my_files.html   49.9KB    1.67    Unrestricted Freeware    No install program to run.   No software installation program. Just download and run. Febooti Freeware Hash & CRC       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.   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.   http://www.febooti.com   http://www.febooti.com/products/filetweak/members/hash-and-crc   782KB    3.0    Unrestricted Freeware    Windows only.   64 Bit version available Microsoft File Checksum Integrity Verifier   Can be used to create a database of computed hashes and revalidate against it.   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.   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=b3c93558-31b7-47e2-a663-7365c1686c08   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=b3c93558-31b7-47e2-a663-7365c1686c08   116KB    2.05    Unrestricted Freeware    No install program to run.   No software installation program. Just download and run. Program is listed for information purposes and is not rated.

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