The file might be modified by someone else in an unauthorized way. Thus, there are the two main reasons if the MD5 hash value of a file you downloaded does not match against the original sum: The perfect match of MD5 checksum value ensures that the digital integrity and security of a file has not been broken by someone else and also that it is the accurate copy of the original file.

You can assign an MD5 sum even to a text or document file.

It is used not only to encrypt a ZIP archive or an EXE installer but all kinds of files. These numbers are generated using special tools that employ “cryptographic hash function producing a 128-bit (16-byte) hash value”. Type the following command: md5sum - NOTE: You can also drag the file to the terminal window instead of typing the full path.Īn MD5 checksum is a mathematical algorithm is usually a set of 32-character hexadecimal letters and numbers that are computed on a file with a tool.If they are exactly the same, your file was downloaded successfully.Compare the MD5 hash in the checksum file to the one displayed in the Terminal.NOTE: The file should contain the MD5 sum of the download file. Open the checksum file provided on the Web page where you downloaded your file from.The MD5 hash of the file is displayed in the Terminal.Drag the downloaded file from the Finder window into the Terminal window.Open the Terminal, from the Applications / Utilities folder.Download the file you want to check and open the download folder in Finder.

Wireshark download hash