What Is Message Digest 5 (MD5)?

Hash functions like MD5 are frequently used in encryption. A hash function also called a hash value, is the result of a mathematical formula that takes in some data and spits out a string of characters with a predetermined length. Since a drastically different hash value will result from even the slightest difference in the input data, this value is frequently used to ensure the original data is unaltered. Cryptographer Ronald Rivest created the MD5 hashing algorithm in 1991. MD5's fundamental purpose is to generate a hash value of 128 bits, the industry standard for message digest methods. The digital signature securely using a compressed file is MD5's primary utility. Its high level of security makes it a desirable tool for a wide range of confidential information exchange and storage uses. You may be thinking, "What does MD5 do?" Feeding MD5 a message will crunch some numbers and spit out a unique 128-bit hash value. This message could be anything from a basic text string to an entire file. Since this hash value is specific to the initial message, any modification to the message will produce a new hash value. Message integrity can be quickly and easily checked; if the hash number changes, you can be sure the message has been altered. While MD5 is still widely used today, more modern hash functions are considered safer. It has been demonstrated that MD5 can be attacked, which means that two different messages can be created that result in the same hash value in the hands of someone with sufficient computing strength. In encryption, this is called a collision attack and is strictly forbidden. Message Digest 5 has been the go-to utility for decades when protecting the confidentiality of messages and data. Although it's not the safest hash function, it is helpful in many situations. Thus, MD5 should be considered a viable communication or file integrity verification option.