File verification
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File verification is the process of using an algorithm for verifying the integrity or authenticity of a computer file.
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[edit] Integrity
File integrity can be compromised, usually referred to as the file becoming corrupted. A file can become corrupted by a variety of ways: faulty storage media, errors in transmission, write errors during copying or moving, and so on. File verification formats allows a person to ensure that a file has not become corrupted by comparing a hash applied to a file to see that they are equal.
[edit] Authenticity
File verification formats allow users to verify the authenticity of files, since if a file has changed (say, with the addition of malicious code) the hash 'fingerprint' of the file will change and alert the user that the authenticity of the file is in question. Many files released have a check file that allows users to verify the file's integrity.
[edit] Formats
[edit] Verification Software
[edit] See also
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