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Cryptographic hash functions are algorithms that convert input data into a fixed-size string, essential for security, digital signatures, and data integrity. Key properties include determinism, fast computation, and resistance to preimage and collision attacks, with common algorithms like MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-3. Applications range from password storage to blockchain technology, while various attacks like brute force and birthday attacks pose threats to their effectiveness.

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5 views2 pages

Document 3

Cryptographic hash functions are algorithms that convert input data into a fixed-size string, essential for security, digital signatures, and data integrity. Key properties include determinism, fast computation, and resistance to preimage and collision attacks, with common algorithms like MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-3. Applications range from password storage to blockchain technology, while various attacks like brute force and birthday attacks pose threats to their effectiveness.

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jonas.telle
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Here is an uabridged rendition of a ChatGPT-answer from the year 2025:

Sure! Here's a technical explanation on **Cryptographic Hash Functions**:

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### **Cryptographic Hash Functions**

A cryptographic hash function is a mathematical algorithm that transforms input


data into a fixed-size string of characters, typically a hexadecimal number. Hash
functions play a crucial role in computer security, digital signatures, and data
integrity verification.

#### **1. Properties of Cryptographic Hash Functions**

A good cryptographic hash function must satisfy the following properties:

- **Deterministic**: The same input always produces the same output.


- **Fast Computation**: The function should efficiently compute the hash value for
any given input.
- **Preimage Resistance**: Given a hash \(h\), it should be computationally
infeasible to find an input \(x\) such that \( H(x) = h \).
- **Second Preimage Resistance**: Given an input \(x\), it should be difficult to
find a different input \(x'\) such that \( H(x) = H(x') \).
- **Collision Resistance**: It should be computationally infeasible to find two
distinct inputs \( x_1 \) and \( x_2 \) where \( H(x_1) = H(x_2) \).

#### **2. Common Cryptographic Hash Algorithms**

- **MD5 (Message Digest Algorithm 5)**:


- Produces a 128-bit hash.
- Considered weak due to known collision vulnerabilities.

- **SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm 1)**:


- Produces a 160-bit hash.
- No longer considered secure due to collision attacks.

- **SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit)**:


- Part of the SHA-2 family, producing a 256-bit hash.
- Used in Bitcoin, digital signatures, and secure authentication.

- **SHA-3**:
- A newer hashing standard based on the Keccak algorithm.
- Designed to be resistant to current cryptographic attacks.

#### **3. Applications of Hash Functions**

- **Password Storage**:
Instead of storing plain-text passwords, systems store hashed passwords. Adding a
random **salt** makes it harder for attackers to use precomputed hash tables
(rainbow tables).

- **Digital Signatures**:
Hash functions are used to verify the integrity of signed messages in
cryptographic protocols like RSA and ECDSA.

- **Data Integrity**:
Checksums based on hash functions help detect accidental modifications or
corruption in files and network transmissions.
- **Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies**:
- Bitcoin uses SHA-256 for transaction verification and proof-of-work mining.
- Ethereum uses Keccak-256 for securing blockchain data.

#### **4. Attacks on Hash Functions**

- **Brute Force Attack**: Testing all possible inputs to find a match.


- **Birthday Attack**: Exploits the birthday paradox to find hash collisions faster
than brute force.
- **Length Extension Attack**: Exploits certain hash constructions (e.g., MD5, SHA-
1) where appending data to a hashed message can produce a predictable output.

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Would you like to explore a specific cryptographic technique in more depth?

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