It is very important to recognize if a file that we are downloading or installing is legitimate. Hackers can use multiple strategies in order to steal information and compromise the proper functioning of systems. There are different methods to know if it is something legitimate or has been modified. One option we have is to analyze its hash and find out if the identification code corresponds to what it should. We are going to see a program that we can use for this and that is called DeadHash .
DeadHash, a program to analyze the hash of a file
DeadHash is an open source program that we can use on both Linux and Windows systems, as well as Android. It is completely free and allows us to check if the hash of a file that we have downloaded from the Internet is legitimate.
Keep in mind that many developers provide this information precisely so that users can verify that they are looking at the correct file. A way to ensure that we install legitimate software that has not been maliciously modified.
Using DeadHash is very simple. The first thing we have to do is download it . There we will meet the different versions. For Windows we can also see the portable version alternative, so as not to have to install it.
How DeadHash works
The way to use DeadHash is very simple. Once we install it or run it through its portable file, we will find a first screen like the one we see in the image below.
On the left we will see the File section. There we have to click to select the file that we want to analyze. You just have to go to the route where we have it saved and that’s it. We can also simply drag the file that interests us there. Later we will give Calculate , to show us the information.
Keep in mind that the time it takes for DeadHash to process it will depend on the size of the file . However, it is usually not more than a few seconds. Once it is finished we will see the list of hash values of the file.
We can easily copy the values or give it to export in a CSV file and be able to use it in the future. DeadHash supports hashing algorithms such as MD4, MD5, SHA1, SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, RIPEMD160, and CRC32. It is an option to generate hashes of files.
If we enter the menu we can change the language, as well as other parameters of the program. We can also select or remove different algorithms to show them or not. This is useful if we only want something specific. We will not find many more options, since it is a simple application that has the essentials.
In short, DeadHash is a simple program to analyze hashes of files that we have downloaded. A way to maintain security at all times and not have problems when installing a program that we have downloaded and that we do not know if it could really be maliciously modified and be a problem for our security.
