Pros
Helps to eliminate corrupted files, and potentially eliminate man in the middle attacks. The idea is that no two files, if they are different in the slightest, will have the same hash output. By using this tool to advertise, and check the integrity..
Cons
you are able to eliminate the chance that you will run a spoofed download. The only downside is you have to use it and you have to check it to achieve this. some downloaders like DTA for firefox have some built in capability to help with this.
Summary
The fat is most people aren't going to look for, and cross reference an md5 hash everytime they choose to download something. This means that each file they don't check, is potentially a hacked man in the middle attack, and for all they know, they could be loading gigabytes upon gigabytes of malicious code into their system. potentially making them a hazard to all of their friends and contacts. It is important that people pay attention to things like this. The bottom line is, that using your computer to get on the internet is a lot like having sex. Basically, what everyone needs to realize is that, when their machine connects to another machine(and yes, when i say machine, i mean, the router on your desk, the routers and switches at at&t, time warner, and everywhere else, as well as your friends you chat with, and the servers that run the web-pages and applications that you use in your daily life, and everything in between!) you are basically telling every one of those machines, "Here I am! Come and get me! look at all of my open ports! look at all of the vulnerabilities in the operating system and the system services that I'm running!" So to go out there every day not protecting yourself is absurd, and archaic. Get real people, the world gives you the tools you need to protect yourself! now use them!
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