- An MD5 checksum is a mathematical algorithm is usually a set of 32-character hexadecimal letters and numbers that are computed on a file with a tool. These numbers are generated using special tools that employ “cryptographic hash function producing a 128-bit (16-byte) hash value”.
- Hashy - A file checksum tool. The easiest way to generate MD5, SHA1, SHA256 and SHA512 checksums! Simple drag the a file into the application and the checksum will be instantly generated. Along with the simple 'copy to clipboard' button, it could not be easier!
If you’ve just downloaded a file from the Internet, you may want to verify that the downloaded file hasn’t been tampered with. After all, who knows that kind of nefarious fiddling a hacker might have been up to? By checking the MD5, SHA-1 or SHA-256 checksum of a file, you can verify its integrity and ensure the file hasn’t been corrupted or changed.
What’s a Checksum?
An MD5 checksum is a mathematical algorithm is usually a set of 32-character hexadecimal letters and numbers that are computed on a file with a tool. These numbers are generated using special tools that employ “cryptographic hash function producing a 128-bit (16-byte) hash value”. Support for SHA-256 on Snow Leopard, and for chosing a custom openssl command line tool in the prefs for SHA-256 on Leopard when using openssl from MacPorts etc. Requirements for Checksum Mac OS X 10.5 or later. Mac users interested in Md5 checksum tool osx 10.5.8 generally download: MD5 2.6 Free As you can probably tell from its name, the MD5 is a small Mac application that was designed to help you create and compare MD5 checksums.
A checksum is a short, unique string that results from running an encryption algorithm on a given file. The algorithm looks at all the bits that make up a file and, based on those unique bits, creates a checksum. This checksum will change if even a single bit in the file changes. This means that by comparing two checksums, you can make sure your file hasn’t been damaged or modified. It’s a useful way to defend against file corruption or malicious interference in your downloads.
The most commonly used algorithms for checksums in MD5. SHA-1 and SHA-256 are also available and are based on cryptographically-secure algorithms. If you can choose from among the three, use SHA-256.
How Do You Use a Checksum?
To use a checksum, you’ll first need to know what a given file’s checksum is. This will have to be provided to you by the same source that provided the file. You’ll run your downloaded file through the same checksum algorithm using one of the tools below. Once you’ve done that, you’ll compare the two strings. If the strings match, the file hasn’t changed. If the strings don’t match, something about your file is different from the original file.
Verify MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256 Checksums in Windows 10
The best way to run checksums in Windows 10 is with a tool called MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility. It will calculate the MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256 checksums for a given file simultaneously and allow you to compare your result against the provided data.
1. Download MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility from the developer’s website.
2. Double-click the downloaded file to launch the program.
3. Click the “Browse” button to select the file you want to check.
4. Locate the provided checksum for your downloaded file. Not all downloaded files have checksums available, but open-source or security-conscious developers will frequently provide a checksum. Copy that checksum to the clipboard, then click the “Paste” button in MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility.
5. If the checksum is the same as the checksum the application calculated, you’ll receive a success message. This means that the file you have is identical to the file that was previously checked.
If the checksum is different, you’ll get an error message. This means the file has somehow changed since the last checksum was calculated.
Verifying Checksums Within File Explorer
If you verify checksums frequently, you might be interested in HashTab. The application installs an additional tab in the Properties window of File Explorer. Thanks to being embedded in Explorer, Hashtab can calculate checksums in place without requiring a separate application. By default, it calculates CRC32, MD5 and SHA-1 hash values. Additional hashing algorithms can be enabled in Hashtab’s settings.
1. Download and install HashTab from the developer’s website.
2. Right-click on the file you want to run a checksum against and choose “Properties” from the context menu.
3. Click the tab labelled “File Hashes” at the top of the window to see the MD5, SHA-1 and CRC32 hashes for the file you selected.
4. Copy and paste the checksum you want to compare against in the “Hash Comparison” dialog box.
5. If the hash checks out, you’ll see a green checkmark.
If the hash doesn’t match, you’ll see a red X.
Conclusion
If you want to check the integrity of a file you’ve downloaded, checksums will help you get it done. You can use MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility as a standalone application for calculating and comparing MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256 checksums or use HashTab for a checksum checking tool that’s integrated into File Explorer.
Image credit: Beyer Cryptographic Watch via Wikimedia Commons
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Related: Jpeg File Repair Tool - File Merge Tool Free - Dbx File Recovery Tool - Music File Organizer Tool - Rated Music File Organizer Tool
- License: Shareware
The KRyLack FileChecksumTool was developed to be a small application that can generate a MD5, SHA-1, HAVAL, MD2, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512 hash from a file. A Hash (Checksum) is a sort of digital fingerprint, uniquely identifying each file.
These are common hashes that are used to verify the integrity and authenticity of files. The software allows you to verify the Hash to ensure the file integrity is correct with the matching file or create new checksum for your important data.
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:KRyLack Software
- Date:
- License: Freeware
KRyLack FileChecksumTool is advanced freeware utility to generate a MD5, SHA-1, HAVAL, MD2, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512 hash from a file. A Hash (Checksum) is a sort of digital fingerprint, uniquely identifying each file. These are common hashes that are used to verify the integrity and authenticity of files. The software allows you to verify the Hash to ensure the file integrity is correct with the matching file or create new checksum for your important data. Many download sites list the MD5 hash along with the download link.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:KRyLack Software
- Date: 17-02-2015
- Size: 1322 KB
Checksum Software For Mac
- License: Shareware
Recover Data for Mac ? Mac file recovery tool instantly rescue Mac hard drive data and get back deleted Mac file from corrupt, lost or inaccessible Mac partitions. You can recover formatted Mac drive data and get Mac files back in very simplest way using Recover Data for Mac file recovery program skin.
Mac data recovery software ? Mac file recovery & fix Mac drive data utility take very little time to scan whole Mac partition or drive and retrieve maximum possible data stored on damaged Mac hard disk.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Mac Data Recovery
- Date: 04-08-2011
- Size: 1730 KB
- License: Shareware
PST file recovery tool for MS Outlook application increases the chances to for the successful recovery of Outlook data PST files that appeared permanently lost. The tool is easy to use because it has interactive user interface and therefore there is no technical knowledge is required to restore Outlook PST files. This tool works efficiently in case in-built utility ?Inbox Repair Tool? get fails to repair the damaged files. Making use of PST file recovery tool, you can recover your corrupted and inaccessible due to few common reasons as for example malfunctioning of Outlook application, Trojan or virus infection, hard drive failure, unexpected system shutdown, etc.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:PST File Recovery Tool
- Date: 02-01-2011
- Size: 3 KB
- License: Shareware
Recover Data for NTFS File Recovery Tool is an advanced data retrieval software that recovers accidentally deleted files/folders & missing directories from crashed windows hard drive. NTFS Data Recovery Software is a best partition recovery tool & file undelete utility that includes fast & focused search capability which gets deleted files/folders & rescue lost data from formatted or reformatted NTFS file system based Windows hard drive. NTFS Data Recovery Software is an easy to use data restoration functionality that allows you to efficiently get back lost files/folders & missing directories from corrupted or formatted hard disk drive.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:NTFS Data Recovery
- Date: 13-01-2011
- Size: 3010 KB
- License: Shareware
File Manager Tool is a handy and reliable application designed to provide advanced search functions and filtering for easier file management.
File Manager Tool allows users to add multiple folders to the search queue and to define various search filters such as name masks and date range. The results are displayed with details such as size, type and last date changed and can be deleted, copied or moved.
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- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Markus Thor+en
- Date:
- License: Shareware
File splitting tool is used to break divide large file into numerous smaller chunks as per your requirement and also merge these chunks into original form without any type of data loss. Document splitter joiner software is very helpful to break up big size file for copying to floppy, CD or email and anyone can merge it again to get original file with this file splitter tool. Files breaker joiner application has the facility for breaking one or more documents into several small sizes of document on a single click.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Split Merge
- Date:
- Size: 296 KB
- License: Freeware
HXTT ChecksumTool for MD5 is a free toolkit for MD5 (Message Digest 5). That freeware should work on any platform that supports Java. HXTT ChecksumTool for MD5. HXTT ChecksumTool for MD5.
- Platform: Linux, Mac, Windows
- Publisher:HXTT
- Date: 01-07-2011
- Size: 27 KB
- License: Freeware
CheckSumTool is an utility program for calculating and verifying checksums for files. The tool is in development and new features will be added frequently in new releases.
Features :
Cheksum types: CRC32, MD5 and SHA-1
File types: flv, md5 and sha1
Simple and fast to use
Written in .Net (C#)
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:Kimmo Varis
- Date:
- Size: 389 KB
- License: Shareware
Kernel for Excel Repair is a proficient Excel data recovery tool that swiftly repairs severely corrupt Excel files regardless of the cause of corruption. MS Excel files face various corruption issues like file header corruption, round tripping, unexpected system shutdown, application exit errors and virus attacks. The software easily fixes these issues and efficiently recovers all Excel information like OLE objects, fields, forms, reports, headers, footnotes, and hyperlinks accurately. Along with supporting UNICODE character recovery, the software uses dual recovery modes – Single-file mode and Multiple-file mode.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Excel File Repair Tool
- Date: 20-03-2015
- Size: 2355 KB
- License: Shareware
Most useful file recovery software provides best data recovery features for Windows, Novell, Linux & Mac hard drives. Our file recovery fix is one of the best file recovery software for 2010, which is using uniquely advanced techniques for data recovery. We designed this file recovery tools for different Operating Systems likes Windows, Novell, Linux & Mac. Our deleted file recovery tool can successfully fix lost partition and restore data lost from corrupted, deleted or formatted partition of any major operating system.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:File Recovery Fix
- Date: 27-01-2011
- Size: 3010 KB
- License: Shareware
Word document file repair tool to repair corrupt MS Word document (.doc) files. Application repair and rebuild corrupt word document files repairs corrupted Word document files and restore multiple documents at a time restores file data structure headers and footnotes. File Repair Software support all versions of MS word including MS Word 2003/XP/2000/97/95.MS Word File Repair tool instantly repairs corrupt Word documents which gets corrupted due to Virus attack, Trojan infection, improper system shutdown, software media corruptions, system boot failure.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Word File Recovery Program
- Date: 01-01-2011
- Size: 1211 KB
Verify Checksum Mac
- License: Shareware
Recover Data for Novell NSS is best nss data recovery software to recover nss files & folders from novell nss volumes/partitions. Novell File Recovery tool is helpful to undelete nss files from all kind of hard drives & any other storage media having Novell operating system. NSS Recovery streamlines layouts or advanced graphical user interface is helpful for any person who wants to recover deleted files from novell nss volumes.
NSS Partitions Recovery software or NSS Data Recovery Utility easily recovers data in these situations:
1) NSS File Recovery Tool helps to recover corrupted nss data, files and folders even if the nss volumes/partitions corrupted and damaged due to virus attack, sudden system shutdown, human error, software and hardware malfunctions, bad sectors in the hard disk etc.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Novell Data Recovery
- Date: 15-08-2011
- Size: 1812 KB
- License: Shareware
Program to calculate and verify checksums of files downloaded from the internet. Supports major checksum types: CRC32, MD4, MD5, SHA1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, RIPEMD-128, RIPEMD-160, HAVAL 256, TIGER 192. Portable version - no installer, just one file. Has simple, intuitive interface with fireworks. FileChecksum Verifier (FCV) supports drag and drop function and can create checksum verification file (program.exe.md5, movie.avi.sha512) and is highly customizable: can save window position, support keyboard shortcuts and makes use of Windows clipboard - copy/paste checksum from/to clipboard and can also auto-paste checksum and automatically compare them, might stay on top on other windows, can be rolled-up to mini bar, show checksum in upper or lowercase and optionally can be integrated with Windows Explorer context menu.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:marxio-tools.net
- Date:
- Size: 552 KB
- License: Freeware
When a file is deleted, most users think that it's gone for good. And it's exactly why they get so frantic when they find out that a file with really valuable information has been erased from their hard drive, portable HDD, USB stick or memory card. Files get deleted by mistake, along with other unnecessary files, by buggy uninstallation scripts and programs, by viruses and different kinds of malware. No matter how a file was deleted, you should know that in the majority of cases they can be restored - and it won't cost you a fortune and won't take days.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Recovery Toolbox, Inc.
- Date: 29-08-2014
- Size: 2452 KB
- License: Freeware
Checksum Tool For Windows
SwiftCompare lite is a free file compare and folder synchronization tool for Windows. Compare and merge any type of files (including binary files), folders or drives using this freeware file compare tool. A light version of SwiftCompare, SwiftCompare lite is very useful for business people, programmers, web developers, travelers who need to work at multiple sites (on different PCs), home users who need to keep their photos, music files, videos etc. organized, and just about anybody who keeps multiple backups or backups of backups of his stuff to protect him from any disaster/data corruption/accidental deletion.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Oorja Software
- Date: 21-08-2009
- Size: 2815 KB
- License: Shareware
K-Crypt File Encryption tool uses the AES Algorithim to help keep your private information safe and secure. Using this tool, you can encrypt files you wish to protect from prying eyes!. Realistic football manager (Premier-League manager, Serie A manager and Bundesliga manager). ActualCoach is a realistic football management game. ( Premier League Manager and Bundesliga Manager).
- Platform:
- Publisher:actualcoach.com
- Date: 25-10-2009
- License: Shareware
Corrupt Excel File Repair Software repairs corrupt Microsoft Excel documents, Restore Corrupt Excel Files and supported all versions of Microsoft Excel such as Excel 97, MS Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000, and Excel 95. Excel repair program restores information from corrupted and unreadable Microsoft Excel files. Damaged .xls file restore tool allows you to repair multiple files. Excel recovery software quickly scan all damage excel file and restore all xls files. Excel file repair software effectively repair excel files corrupted due to virus attacks.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:MS Excel Repair
- Date: 14-07-2011
- Size: 821 KB
- License: Shareware
Duplifinder is a powerful all-in-one file management tool to find and remove all kind of duplicate files from your folders, hard disk, removable drive or network drives. Deletes duplicate email, contacts, notes, tasks from Microsoft Outlook folders. Compare, synchronize, move or delete your files or folders, also provides the ability to delete all junk files from your computer. The features detail below:
1. Find and remove duplicate files with Duplifinder
Duplifinder can help you to find and remove any duplicate file with the same name or same content.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Neitsoft, Inc.
- Date: 12-08-2011
- Size: 5543 KB
- License: Freeware
Extremely simple single-script file upload tool, supports multiple areas. Files can be 'uploaded' into UNIX pipes as well. (for providing access to unix command tools) You should have some security knowledge before installing it. An ideal free solution for client file exchange or intranet areas).
Best Checksum Tool
- Platform: CGI and Perl, Scripts
- Publisher:GenieGate
- Date: 18-07-2011