HashTool

File hashes can be used to verify a file’s integrity and check whether it has been tampered with somewhere along the way. Multiple hashing algorithms can be used for these purposes, each with their advantages and drawbacks.

HashTool is a simple, open-source utility that provides you with a quick way to both calculate hashes and compare them to an available one. It supports multiple algorithms and is very easy to use.

To get started, all you have to do is launch the application and drop a file in the main window. The hash will be calculated using the algorithm that has been selected from the drop-down list.

If you want to generate the hash using a different algorithm, just select it from the list and click Calculate again. The value can be copied to the clipboard using the small button next to the text box.

Once you have loaded a file and calculated its hash, you may wish to check that this value is identical to a hash that has already been provided on the source website. If it is not, that’s a good indication that the file is corrupted or has been modified in some way before ending up on your PC.

To compare two hashes, you just need to paste the available value in the Compare field. If they are identical, the text will be displayed in green, while red will be used if the two hashes are different.

HashTool is a pretty basic piece of software, but it can be just what many users need. It can quickly process a file and calculate its hash, while also allowing you to compare it to an available one. However, it cannot be used to generate hashes for multiple files at once, which will be a drawback for some users.