The hash verifier is a web tool created to calculate the digital fingerprint of a file and compare it with another hash value. A hash is not the file content itself; it is a technical representation of that content. If the file is exactly the same, the result should match. If a single byte changes, the hash can become completely different.
This tool has been developed by Xabier Durruti and NGU to make privacy, security and integrity checks easier to perform. It is designed for checking downloads, received documents, backups or technical evidence directly in the browser, without sending the file to a server.
With the hash verifier you can select a file and calculate several algorithms, including MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512. It also includes a comparison area to check whether two hash values match.
A hash does not prove by itself that a file is safe. What it helps confirm is integrity. If the hash matches a trusted reference, the file can be considered identical to that reference. If it does not match, the risks may include a damaged download, a wrong version, a replaced file or possible tampering.
- Verify software downloads and updates.
- Check that a sent document has not changed.
- Control the integrity of backups and important archives.
- Document evidence in digital forensic analysis or computer forensics.
Privacy is central to this tool: files are processed in your browser. They are not uploaded to the server, documents are not stored, information is not retained and there is no intention to keep anything you check. Hash calculation happens locally on your own device.
This kind of verification connects with other topics on the website, such as digital privacy, OSINT and open sources and the first decisions after information loss.