Encrypt
Generate a secure SHA-256 hash from any plaintext for enhanced password protection.
Verify
Verify if a plaintext matches a specific SHA-256 hash, ensuring secure login validation.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What is SHA-256?
SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is part of the SHA-2 family of cryptographic hash functions, designed by the NSA. It generates a fixed 256-bit hash value from any input data, widely used for securing passwords, digital signatures, and data integrity checks.
Is SHA-256 Secure?
SHA-256 is currently considered secure and is widely used in various security protocols. Unlike its predecessor, SHA-1, it has no known vulnerabilities, making it suitable for modern cryptographic applications.
Hash Details
The SHA-256 hash consists of 64 hexadecimal characters, representing 256 bits of data. Each character is in the range of 0-9 and a-f.
- Length: 64 hexadecimal characters (256 bits)
- Output Format: Typically displayed as a 64-character hexadecimal string.
- Speed: SHA-256 is slower than MD5 or SHA-1, but its security benefits outweigh the speed difference.
Example Explained: Consider the SHA-256 hash
f7c3bc1d808e04732adf679965ccc34ca7ae3441ef9b0e4a9a3e8a76b133c92f. This hash is structured as follows:
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Hash Value:
f7c3bc1d808e04732adf679965ccc34ca7ae3441ef9b0e4a9a3e8a76b133c92f
What is Password Hashing?
Password hashing is a security technique used to transform a password into a fixed-size string of characters, which is designed to be impossible to reverse. It helps protect the password's original text while verifying user credentials without storing the actual password.