HashCalc 2.02: A Free and Easy-to-Use Hash, CRC, and HMAC Calculator
If you are looking for a fast and simple way to compute hashes, checksums, and HMACs for your files, texts, or hex strings, you might want to check out HashCalc 2.02. This is a free desktop utility that allows you to choose from 13 of the most popular hash and checksum algorithms for your calculations. In this article, we will introduce you to the features and benefits of HashCalc 2.02, show you how to download and install it on your Windows PC, and guide you through the basic usage of the software.
What is HashCalc 2.02?
A brief introduction to the software and its features
HashCalc 2.02 is a software developed by SlavaSoft, a company that specializes in creating high-quality encryption tools and libraries. It was released in 2004 and has been updated regularly since then. The latest version is 2.02, which was released in 2010.
HashCalc 2.02 is a lightweight and portable application that does not require installation or registration. You can simply download it from the official website and run it on your computer without any hassle.
HashCalc 2.02 has a clear and intuitive user interface that allows you to easily select the input data format, the hash or checksum algorithm, and the output format for your calculations. You can also drag-and-drop files or text into the software window for convenience.
The benefits of using HashCalc 2.02 for computing hashes, checksums, and HMACs
Hashes, checksums, and HMACs are commonly used for various purposes such as verifying file integrity, authenticating messages, encrypting data, or generating passwords. By using HashCalc 2.02, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- You can compute hashes, checksums, and HMACs for any type of file or data, regardless of its size or format.
- You can choose from a wide range of hash and checksum algorithms that are well-known and documented.
- You can compare hashes or checksums with each other or with a reference value to check if they match or not.
- You can save or copy the results of your calculations to a file or clipboard for further use.
- You can use a custom hash algorithm (MD4-based) that is used in eDonkey and eMule applications.
- You can use the software offline without requiring an internet connection.
How to Download and Install HashCalc 2.02?
The steps to download the software from the official website
To download HashCalc 2.02 from the official website, follow these steps – Go to the website https://www.slavasoft.com/hashcalc/index.htm – Click on the “Download” button on the top right corner of the page – Choose the “HashCalc 2.02 (Free)” option from the list of products – Click on the “Download Now” button under the product description – Save the file “hashcalc.zip” to your preferred location on your computer – Extract the file “hashcalc.zip” using a zip utility such as WinZip or 7-Zip – You will see a folder named “HashCalc” that contains the executable file “HashCalc.exe” and other files
The steps to install the software on Windows
To install HashCalc 2.02 on Windows, follow these steps:
– Open the folder “HashCalc” that you extracted from the zip file – Double-click on the file “HashCalc.exe” to run the software – You will see a dialog box that asks you to accept the license agreement – Click on the “I Agree” button to proceed – You will see the main window of HashCalc 2.02 that shows the options for your calculations – You can optionally create a shortcut for HashCalc 2.02 on your desktop or start menu by right-clicking on the file “HashCalc.exe” and choosing “Create shortcut” – You can also optionally copy the file “HashCalc.exe” to another location on your computer or a removable drive for portability
How to Use HashCalc 2.02?
The main interface and the options available
The main window of HashCalc 2.02 has four sections: Input Data, Data Format, Hash Algorithm, and Output Format.
The Input Data section allows you to enter or select the data that you want to calculate hashes, checksums, or HMACs for. You can either type or paste a text string or a hex string, or browse for a file on your computer. You can also drag-and-drop a file or text into this section.
The Data Format section allows you to choose the format of your input data. You can choose from three options: File, Text String, or Hex String. Depending on your choice, the Input Data section will change accordingly.
The Hash Algorithm section allows you to choose the hash or checksum algorithm that you want to use for your calculations. You can choose from 13 options: MD2, MD4, MD5, SHA1, SHA256, SHA384, SHA512, RIPEMD160, PANAMA, TIGER, ADLER32, CRC32, and eDonkey/eMule.
The Output Format section allows you to choose the format of your output data. You can choose from three options: Uppercase Hexadecimal, Lowercase Hexadecimal, or Base64. Depending on your choice, the output data will be displayed in different formats.
The two modes of calculations: Hash/Checksum and HMAC
HashCalc 2.02 has two modes of calculations: Hash/Checksum and HMAC.
The Hash/Checksum mode allows you to compute hashes or checksums for your input data using any of the 13 algorithms available. This mode is useful for verifying file integrity, generating passwords, encrypting data, or identifying duplicate files.
The HMAC mode allows you to compute HMACs (Hash-based Message Authentication Codes) for your input data using any of the 13 algorithms available and a secret key that you provide. This mode is useful for authenticating messages, ensuring data integrity, or preventing tampering.
To switch between the two modes, you can use the radio buttons at the bottom of the window. Depending on your choice, you will see an additional field for entering the secret key in HMAC mode.
The three input data formats: files, text strings, and hex strings
HashCalc 2.02 supports three input data formats: files, text strings, and hex strings.
Files are any type of files that you have on your computer or a removable drive. You can select a file by clicking on the browse button (…) next to the Input Data field or by dragging-and-dropping a file into this field. The software will automatically detect the size and name of the file and display them below the field.
Text strings are any type of texts that you can type or paste into the Input Data field. The software will automatically detect the length and encoding of the text and display them below the field.
Hex strings are any type of hexadecimal values that you can type or paste into the Input Data field. The software will automatically detect the length and validity of the hex string and display them below the field.
The supported hash and checksum algorithms</
The supported hash and checksum algorithms
HashCalc 2.02 supports 13 hash and checksum algorithms that are widely used and recognized in the fields of cryptography, security, and data integrity. Here is a brief description of each algorithm and its output length:
| Algorithm | Description | Output Length |
|---|---|---|
| MD2 | A message-digest algorithm designed by Ronald Rivest in 1989. It is optimized for 8-bit machines and is considered insecure by today’s standards. | 128 bits |
| MD4 | A message-digest algorithm designed by Ronald Rivest in 1990. It is faster than MD2 but has several weaknesses that make it vulnerable to attacks. | 128 bits |
| MD5 | A message-digest algorithm designed by Ronald Rivest in 1991. It is widely used for various purposes but has been proven to be susceptible to collisions and other attacks. | 128 bits |
| SHA1 | A secure hash algorithm designed by the NSA in 1995. It is based on the SHA-0 algorithm but has some modifications to improve its security. However, it is no longer considered secure due to the discovery of collisions. | 160 bits |
| SHA256 | A secure hash algorithm designed by the NSA in 2001. It is part of the SHA-2 family of algorithms and produces a longer output than SHA1 to resist brute-force attacks. | 256 bits |
| SHA384 | A secure hash algorithm designed by the NSA in 2001. It is part of the SHA-2 family of algorithms and produces a longer output than SHA256 to resist brute-force attacks. | 384 bits |
| SHA512 | A secure hash algorithm designed by the NSA in 2001. It is part of the SHA-2 family of algorithms and produces a longer output than SHA384 to resist brute-force attacks. | 512 bits |
| RIPEMD160 | A hash function developed by Hans Dobbertin, Antoon Bosselaers, and Bart Preneel in 1996. It is based on the RIPEMD algorithm but has some improvements to increase its security. | 160 bits |
| PANAMA | A hash function designed by Joan Daemen and Craig Clapp in 1998. It uses a stream cipher to generate a variable-length output that can be truncated to any desired length. | Variable (up to 256 bits) |
| TIGER | A hash function designed by Ross Anderson and Eli Biham in 1995. It is optimized for 64-bit machines and has a fast and simple structure. | 192 bits |
| ADLER32 | A checksum algorithm designed by Mark Adler in 1995. It is a variant of the Fletcher checksum and is faster than CRC32 but less reliable. | 32 bits |
| CRC32 | A cyclic redundancy check algorithm that is widely used for error detection in data transmission and storage. It is based on polynomial arithmetic and has a high detection rate for common errors. | 32 bits |
| eDonkey/eMule | A custom hash algorithm that is used in the eDonkey and eMule peer-to-peer file sharing applications. It is based on the MD4 algorithm but has some modifications to suit the application’s needs. | 128 bits |
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