ProblemWhen an item is exported from Clearwell, the Metadata field 'NativeFileHash' is selected along with the Option to Include messages in native format and native loose files:The export is successful, but then when another export is run, even with the same settings, the 'NativeFileHash' value is different, even though it is the same item.Since these are identical items, the MD5 (NativeFileHash) value will change. CauseIf the MSG source is a PST file, then the MSG file exported will, in essence, be a new file created from the PST rather than an existing MSG file (if it was a loose file).The MD5 number will change when a message file from a PST source is exported.
When Clearwell performs a metadata export with natives checked for the export, Clearwell is is essentially extracting the MSG from the PST at that point in time. The system has an internal logic which is used to calculate MD5 hash based on certain attributes.If the same MSG is exported some time later, the system will recalculate the MD5 hash, which is per design.
Windows File Metadata
Since MD5 hashes are calculated by Clearwell, they do not necessarily have to be the same for the exact same message coming from a PST. SolutionThis is normal behavior as the MSG file is changed when it is extracted from the PST file for the export.Each time it is extracted from the PST source, the metadata value of the MSG's'PRLASTMODIFICATIONTIME' and 'PRCREATIONTIME' are altered, which will change the MD5 value.If the MSG file is a loose file, then the MD5 is not adjusted and will remain the same.
How To Hash File Metadata In Word
How Hashes Work, and How They’re Used for Data VerificationHashes are the products of cryptographic designed to produce a string of characters. Often these strings have a fixed length, regardless of the size of the input data. Take a look at the above chart and you’ll see that both “Fox” and “The red fox jumps over the blue dog” yield the same length output.Now compare the second example in the chart to the third, fourth, and fifth.
You’ll see that, despite a very minor change in the input data, the resulting hashes are all very different from one another. Even if someone modifies a very small piece of the input data, the hash will change dramatically.MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 are all different hash functions. Software creators often take a file download—like a Linux.iso file, or even a Windows.exe file—and run it through a hash function. They then offer an official list of the hashes on their websites.That way, you can download the file and then run the hash function to confirm you have the real, original file and that it hasn’t been corrupted during the download process. As we saw above, even a small change to the file will dramatically change the hash.These can also be useful if you have a file you got from an unofficial source and you want to confirm that it’s legitimate. Let’s say you have a Linux.ISO file you got from somewhere and you want to confirm it hasn’t been tampered with.
What Is A Hash File
You can look up the hash of that specific ISO file online on the Linux distribution’s website. You can then run it through the hash function on your computer and confirm that it matches the hash value you’d expect it to have. This confirms the file you have is the exact same file being offered for download on the Linux distribution’s website, without any modifications.Note that “collisions” have been found with the MD5 and SHA-1 functions. These are multiple different files—for example, a safe file and a malicious file—that result in the same MD5 or SHA-1 hash. That’s why you should prefer SHA-256 when possible.
How to Compare Hash Functions on Any Operating SystemWith that in mind, let’s look at how to check the hash of a file you downloaded, and compare it against the one you’re given. Here are methods for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The hashes will always be identical if you’re using the same hashing function on the same file.
It doesn’t matter which operating system you use.