Learn How Hashing Verifies Integrity

How can you prove, with mathematical certainty, that a digital file has not been altered by even a single bit? The answer is cryptographic hashing. A hashing algorithm, like SHA-256, takes a file of any size and produces a unique, fixed-length string of characters called a hash value or "digital fingerprint." If the original file is changed in any way—even by adding a single space—and re-hashed, the new hash value will be completely different. This makes hashing the ultimate tool for verifying data integrity.