How to Use PowerShell to Check the Hash of a File

PowerShell is a powerful scripting language and command-line shell that is built on top of the .NET framework. It provides a wide range of functionalities, including the ability to check the hash of a file. Checking the hash of a file is important for verifying its integrity and ensuring that it has not been tampered with.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of using PowerShell to check the hash of a file.

Step 1: Open PowerShell

To begin, open the PowerShell application on your Windows computer. You can do this by searching for “PowerShell” in the Start menu or by pressing the Windows key and typing “PowerShell” in the search bar.

Step 2: Navigate to the File’s Directory

Once you have PowerShell open, you need to navigate to the directory where the file is located. You can do this by using the “cd” command followed by the path to the directory. For example, if the file is located in the “Documents” folder, you would use the following command:

cd C:UsersYourUsernameDocuments

Step 3: Calculate the File’s Hash

Now that you are in the correct directory, you can use the “Get-FileHash” cmdlet to calculate the hash of the file. The “Get-FileHash” cmdlet computes the hash value for a file by using a specified algorithm.

To check the hash of a file, use the following command:

Get-FileHash -Algorithm AlgorithmName -Path FilePath

Replace “AlgorithmName” with the name of the hashing algorithm you want to use, such as “SHA1” or “MD5”. Replace “FilePath” with the path to the file you want to check.

For example, if you want to check the SHA256 hash of a file named “example.txt” located in the current directory, you would use the following command:

Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 -Path .example.txt

Step 4: Compare the Hash

After running the command, PowerShell will display the calculated hash value of the file. You can compare this hash value with the expected hash value to verify the integrity of the file.

If the hash values match, it means that the file has not been modified or tampered with. However, if the hash values do not match, it indicates that the file has been altered in some way.

Conclusion

Using PowerShell to check the hash of a file is a simple and effective way to ensure the integrity of your files. By comparing the calculated hash value with the expected hash value, you can verify that the file has not been tampered with.

Remember to always use trusted sources when obtaining the expected hash value for a file. This will help you ensure that the file has not been modified by malicious actors.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily check the hash of a file using PowerShell and have peace of mind knowing that your files are secure.