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Hashing is a basic tool of computer security
Any amount of data goes in; a fixed-size checksum (*'hash'*) comes out
The algorithm is very carefully designed:
Different inputs produce different outputs
If inputs match, checksums match, if checksums differ, inputs differ (obvious)
If checksums match, inputs match; if checksums differ, inputs differ (not obvious)
Very difficult to produce two inputs with the same output
Very difficult to produce a desired target checksum
Small changes in the input produce drastic changes in the output
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