Question 1

What is a hash function and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

A hash function is a mathematical algorithm that converts input data of any size into a fixed-size output called a hash, digest, or checksum. Good hash functions are deterministic (same input always produces same output), fast to compute, infeasible to reverse (one-way), and produce vastly different outputs for similar inputs (avalanche effect). They are used for data integrity, password storage, and digital signatures.

Question 2

What is the difference between hashing and encryption?

Accepted Answer

Hashing is one-way: you cannot recover the original data from a hash. It always produces fixed-size output and is used for integrity verification and password storage. Encryption is two-way: encrypted data can be decrypted with the correct key. It produces variable-size output and is used for data confidentiality. Never use hashing when you need to recover data, and never use encryption for password storage.

Question 3

Why is MD5 considered insecure and should I still use it?

Accepted Answer

MD5 is cryptographically broken because collision attacks are practical (different inputs can produce the same hash). It should NOT be used for security purposes like password hashing, digital signatures, or certificates. However, MD5 is still acceptable for non-security uses like checksums for data integrity (file downloads), cache keys, or non-critical fingerprinting where collision attacks are not a concern.

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