MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility

CNET Editors' review

Cryptographic hash functions are commonly used to guard against malicious changes to protected data in a wide variety of software, Internet, and security applications, including digital signatures and other forms of authentication. Two of the most common cryptographic hash functions are the Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) and Message Digest Algorithm-5 (MD5). Checksum utilities are used to verify the integrity of generated hashes. There are two basic types, those that calculate checksum values and those that also validate them by checking them against a list of values for the protected data, which is the only way it can be done. Raymond Lin's MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility is a standalone freeware tool that generates and verifies cryptographic hashes in MD5 and SHA-1.

The program has a basic, utterly functional interface that should pose no trouble for anyone with the knowledge and skill to actually need it. To generate or verify a hash, you simply browse to the file of choice, select either MD5 or SHA-1, and click either Copy to generate the hash or Verify to check its integrity. A Paste function automatically enters the generated hash for verification at the click of a button.

MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility is free to download and use, though Ray accepts donations from satisfied users. At a mere 57k, his checksum tool is about as small as a useful, functioning utility can be in this age of bloatware, and even more so considering that it's certified to work in Windows Vista and 7.

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    4.2 stars

    out of 16 votes

    • 5 star: 10
    • 4 star: 3
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 0
    • 1 star: 2
  • Current version:

    4.4 stars

    out of 13 votes

    • 5 star: 9
    • 4 star: 2
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 0
    • 1 star: 1
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 13

  • 4.0 stars

    "A better program."

    October 13, 2012  |   By WilliamLeng

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    It works perfect as designed.

    Cons

    It lacks some features such as: 1) processing a folder recursively. 2) dependency on platform. 3) cancel a long lasting job.

    Summary

    I found HashCopy can do the same thing as this tool and much more. It is platform independent and can process a folder that contains hundreds of thousands files with the total size over one terabytes.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Works Great"

    May 30, 2012  |   By DiddlerDave

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    Free, and works. Easy to understand interface.

    Cons

    Shows how slow my computer is....

    Summary

    I wonder if it would run faster if you could turn off whichever checksum you don't need.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Excellent free software"

    March 29, 2012  |   By Daesh

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    nothing so far, plus it's free

    Cons

    lack of a good and clear manual or help file is annoying

    Summary

    I beg for a manual to explain and show the functions and buttons, PLEASE. Thank you

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Simple to use, but could use a start button"

    February 7, 2012  |   By ChiefEngr781

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    It's small, it's self contained, it's pretty much fool proof. Doesn't require installation -- just run it.

    Cons

    Seems a little sluggish, maybe because it does both MD5 and SHA-1 at the same time. Starts calculating as soon as you pick a file, even before it redraws its window.

    Summary

    It does what is says it does, so I can't fault it there. It seems slow but it could be because it is doing both MD5 and SHA-1 at the same time. There is no control to choose which hash(es) you want generated. You browse for the file to convert and click 'open" and before the program can even repaint its window, the calculation starts so the window ends up in this quasi-drawn state which looks like the program has crashed. It was only the steady HDD light that suggested that the thing was chewing away at my 1GB .iso image file.

    Along with my kudos for an almost foolproof program, I might suggest the following to the developer:
    1) the ability to turn on/off the computation of each hash. Maybe a check box for each one to enable/disable it.
    2) when you come out of the Browse for file, paint the window before starting the computation. A little status indicator (% done or something) to let us know that the thing is working would go a long way too.
    3) Maybe a start button so you can control the hash generation
    4) Maybe a way to select multiple files so you can batch up an entire folder's worth of .isos for hashing.

    thanks!

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  • 1.0 stars

    "the software is good"

    September 19, 2011  |   By shinjikenny

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    nice application

    Cons

    but this download is not... i was expecting a 52KB file but this is
    443KB...

    Summary

    virustotal's result:

    ByteHero 1.0.0.1 2011.09.13 Trojan.Backdoor.Gen.a
    Jiangmin 13.0.900 2011.09.19 Trojan/JmGeneric.bmo
    NOD32 6477 2011.09.19 a variant of Win32/InstallCore.C
    PCTools 8.0.0.5 2011.09.19 Application.ChitChat
    Rising 23.76.00.03 2011.09.19 Suspicious

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Excellent tool"

    August 26, 2011  |   By browndavidc

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    Fast and easy to use

    Cons

    No cons to mention

    Summary

    Easy to use, performs checksums and compares easily. Great tool. Thanks

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Small, Free and Does the Job!"

    April 8, 2011  |   By DavidTroidl

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    This is all I could ask for in a checksum utility.

    Cons

    None at all.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Good utility to check both MD5 and SHA-1 checksums"

    February 7, 2011  |   By ua63t

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    Does what is advertised; checks and generates checksums in formats MD5 and SHA-1.

    Cons

    No obvious cons.

    Summary

    Great tool to add to your utility suite.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Great free utility"

    February 2, 2011  |   By Jbone1337

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    Easy to use and fast
    free
    supports 64bit and windows7
    no install

    Cons

    none that i can think of atm

    Summary

    Great for insuring download integrity (especially with .iso's)

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  • 3.0 stars

    "Basic Workhorse with 64 Bit Support"

    January 24, 2011  |   By supercourier

    Version: MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility 1.1

    Pros

    --64-bit Windows 7 support
    --Does the job, albeit with many steps
    --No need to install
    --Free

    Cons

    --No shell extension or context menu support
    --Multi-step, P.I.T.A. usage. Drag and drop file, click hash type, click paste button, drag and drop second file, click verify.
    --Only 2 hash types supported.

    Summary

    Seen others that do comparisons automatically for you, but no 64 bit versions yet.

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Results 1-10 of 13

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