How to use the passwords manager LISTHASH?
Hash: What are they and why are they important for security?
In today's digital world, security is of paramount importance. We protect our devices with passwords, use antivirus software and take precautions when surfing the web. Despite the number of security-related concepts we are commonly familiar with, there is one fundamental element that is often overlooked: hashes. This concept of "hashes", "hash functions" or "hash values" may sound as cryptic as an ancient code. However, in the vast digital universe behind this apparent complexity hides a fundamental tool for our protection in the online era.
What are hashes?
Hashes, also known as hash functions or digest functions, are mathematical algorithms that convert data of any size into a unique and irreversible string of characters, called a hash value or fingerprint. Hashes employ complex mathematical algorithms to transform any type of data into a fixed-length string of characters. The magic lies in their unidirectional nature: it is impossible to obtain the original data from the hash value, which guarantees the security of the information.
Imagine a hash function as a magic blender: you enter a file, a text string or any other data, and the blender returns a unique alphanumeric code representing that data. Hashes are like meticulous detectives that allow you to detect any modification in the information linked to the hash. Their main task is to analyze any data presented, be it a file, a message or a password, and deliver a unique and unalterable fingerprint. This fingerprint, known as a hash value, serves as an unmistakable signature that identifies that specific piece of data, regardless of its size or original format.
Why are hashes important for security?
Hashes play a crucial role in security for several reasons:
1. Integrity verification: They allow you to verify whether a file or message has been altered during transmission or storage. If the hash value calculated from the received file or message does not match the original hash value, it means that the file or message has been modified.
2. Data authentication: Used to verify the authenticity of data, such as software downloads or system updates. By comparing the hash value of the downloaded file with the hash value provided by the developer, you can ensure that the file has not been corrupted or altered.
3. Password protection: These are the basis of password security. Passwords are not stored in plain text in databases, instead they are converted into hashed values. This means that if a hacker gains access to the database, he will not be able to obtain the passwords themselves, only the hash values, which are useless for logging in.
4. Malware detection: They are used to identify and remove malware. Antivirus and anti-malware programs store a database of known malware hash values. When a file is scanned, its hash value is calculated and compared to the database. If the hash value matches a known malware hash, the file is considered malicious and is deleted.
5. Blockchain validation: These are fundamental in blockchain technologies, ensuring the immutability and transparency of transactions. In the case of Bitcoin, they are used as proof of work to determine a validator's right to write a new block and get its reward.
6. Creation of digital signatures: They are used to create digital signatures that guarantee the authenticity and integrity of electronic documents. Contracts, agreements, invoices, account statements, online purchases, bank transfers, credit card payments, emails and documents shared in the cloud are protected and validated using hash functions.
7. Conversion of simple to complex information: Executing a hash function, as in the case of LISTHASH, allows to increase exponentially and in a chaotic but deterministic way the probability field of a piece of data. Salting, which is the application of a hash function to specific information attached to a special piece of data, completely changes its result and makes the decryption of the original data even more complex and improbable, allowing it to be protected.
Application of a hash function to a message as an example:
In the following field you can enter a message to see the result of applying a hash function.
Resulting hash:
You can verify that for the same message the hash always matches and any modification, however minor, generates a completely different hash.