How to Create Checksums on Your Computer

Our article covering how to create checksums for files on your server apply to everyone using Linux as their local operating system (OS) as well. But Windows and Apple OS users would have to use different steps.

Furthermore, md5 and sha1 checksums are still popular because they’re fast. But they’re now very insecure due to the possibility of a hash collision. This means its possible for two or more completely different files to produce the same hash.

This is why we recommend more secure hashing algorithms such as sha224, sha256, sha384, and sha512 (least to most secure). Remember that creating a checksum doesn’t modify the file as you create a file hash from your computer.

Note: This is also more secure than online tools such as VirusTotal.com as you’re not uploading files externally.

If you would prefer to not use the command line or SSH to create checksums, you can use the GtkHash program, which offers a convenient graphical user interface.

Get a Checksum

Open your terminal

Windows	MacOS
PowerShell: Open the folder with the file you’ll hash, click File and Open Windows PowerShell	Method 1: Click Spotlight in the upper-right ( or press `⌘` + `space`) and type `Terminal`
Command Prompt: Open the Start Menu, type `cmd`, and press `Enter ↵`.	Method 2: Click Go in the menu bar, click Utilities, then Terminal
Type `cd \Users\your-username\Documents` to reach your file directory. Type `dir` for current directory listing	Type `cd path-to-file-folder` to navigate to the file if needed Type `ls` for current directory listing

Create the checksum

Windows MacOS

certutil -hashfile path-to-file sha512 shasum -a 512 path-to-file

Replace 512 with your preferred algorithm – 256, 224, 384, etc.
Use the echo command to easily compare the two hashes

Windows MacOS

PowerShell: echo hash ; echo second-hash

Command Prompt: echo hash && echo second-hash

echo hash && echo second-hash