Simple file verification: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:07, 7 December 2004

Revision as of 16:21, 6 February 2005

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== Check sum ==

Files can become [[Data corruption|corrupted]] for a variety of reasons including: faulty [[Computer Storage|storage media]], errors in [[Transmission (telecommunications)|transmission]], write errors during [[copying]] or moving, and so on. SFV allows a person to ensure that a file has not become [[corruption|corrupted]] by comparing a [[Hash function|hash]] applied a file to see that they are equal. SFV also allows users to verify the authenticity of files, since if a file was changed (say, with the addition of malicious code) the hash 'fingerprint' of the file would change and alter the user that the authenticity of the file is in question.

One of the first programs to use the SFV format was [[WinSFV]].