HashTools is a free software created by Binary Fortress capable of calculating and verifying the integrity of files, folders, images, text, videos, and songs, among others, using a mathematical algorithm known as "hash."

We have all downloaded files online or copied a necessary file to our PC. Still, we often assume that if a file is malicious, an effective antivirus will stop the download before it is executed or that the owner of the site in question will notice and remove it. However, this does not always work this way. Therefore it is advisable to check if the transfer was done correctly, if it has some strange problem, if the file has been manipulated, if it is incomplete or if it is fake, and that is precisely where HashTools runs a simple calculation that will help us to get out of doubt without running risks.

The "file hash" is comparable to the stamp or signature of a file and is used to check that it has not been altered. When we download a file online, it is assigned a "file hash" to verify its integrity. Still, many websites where we want to download a file we need do not offer specific file hashes because they use the built-in driver signature or certificate authority to sign their software. Also, not all portals provide the opportunity to cross-reference a hash to check that it is not corrupted and as such many other web servers also do not offer file hash comparisons.

Added to this, generally, most people do not take the time to examine their downloads, perhaps because they ignore the importance of doing so, which is why this effective tool quickly displays the hash of any file we wish to install by comparing it with the original, and if there is any difference, it signals that there is an error or danger in the copy.

How do you check the integrity of a file?

To ensure that your files are unaltered, HashTools provides a quick check so that the possibility of checking if it is malicious or has been modified will not be a problem.

Many programs facilitate the task and allow you to verify the security of the file you are downloading, process a list of files, create checksums, and save that data.

The checksum refers to a hash function that detects any changes in a data sequence to protect the data's integrity by checking the values obtained in the initial check against the one performed once the files have been compared. The verification is completed when the program is rerun on the same set of files.

In short, with the free software HashTools, you will be able to check the integrity of a file very quickly, as it will allow you to see if it has been altered.

How does HashTools work?

The first thing you will notice when using the software is its simple and easy-to-use design with no complicated graphical elements. Despite being complete software, it is still friendly and intuitive, so anyone can use it without problems to calculate and check the integrity of the files. The way to use it is as follows:

• Once the program is open, we will visualize three sections in the upper part named: Add File , Add Folders , Delete, and a small box in case you want to make an automatic backup of the files already compared.

• In the middle part of the screen, three columns are shown: In the first one on the left, we will enter the selected files; in the center will be the hashes; and on the right of the monitor, the comparison column is observed.

• Once we select the files we want to calculate the hash values, they are added to the column where it corresponds (first on the left). The tool performs the corresponding calculations quickly and easily, comparing your files.

• Once the comparison is made, a checkmark on the left side of the file column shows whether the hash value result matches. When the values do not match, an X will appear on the check mark.

• To optimize the use of HashTools, you should use the same algorithms to calculate the hash values that are located in their different formats at the bottom of the interface: CRC32/MD5/SHA1/SHA256/SHA384/ and SHA512, as well as saving the results in SFV files if necessary.

With HashTools, we can calculate and visualize the sums of MD5 and SHA1 hashes of any file and perform the respective comparisons.

Additional advantages of HashTools software

Undoubtedly one of the additional advantages of the software is its portability, so you will not need to install it on your computer or make any changes to the Windows registry since it integrates with the file explorer, and by simply dragging and dropping the files, you select, they will be reflected in the main window of the application to calculate and display their formats quickly. If they have not been modified, all files will have the same checksum.

HashTools allows users to immediately get into the download and configuration process by selecting and dragging the file(s) to be processed to the main tray or using the classic file browser for analysis.

Apart from verifying the complete integrity of downloaded files, the program is often used in cryptography to generate secure passwords. Another essential feature of this tool is that it allows the direct search of the hash value in Virus Total to detect malicious files such as worms, Trojans, and suspicious URLs, which can harm our computer systems and computers by naively or freely downloading files without a proper process to confirm their authenticity and security.

As you can see, the HASH function is of great value to digital contribution as it tries to prevent plagiarism and protect files or other programs from manipulation and malicious and malicious interference on the Web, hence the need to get used to digging a little deeper with easy-to-use tools like HashTools.

HashTools has become more than a convenient tool for the IT world; its usefulness has been put in place for administrators, security consultants, intellectual property, copyright, developers, or any other field that needs to maintain the integrity and legality of virtual content.