What exactly are Hashes and how are they created

[drwho88888]

What exactly are Hashes and how are they created ?

[1715044097]

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[1715044097]

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[neurobox]

A hash is string of numbers/letters/etc resulting from a one-way cryptographic routine. Any slight change in the input results in drastic changes to the output, but identical inputs always yield identical outputs. The output can be used to "identify" matching inputs without any possibility of determining what the inputs actually were.

Most websites, instead of storing passwords, will store a hash of the password. When a password is entered, it is hashed, and if the resulting hash is identical, they know you entered the correct password.

Traditionally this was done with md5 hashes, but now most md5 hashes can be pasted into google and the input is known. This cannot be the case with bitcoin, as the keys are far too complex and unique, and most transactions double up on the NSA-grade SHA256 hash, making it effectively impossible to break. That said, quantum computing is here...

[RioGrande]

That was by far the simplest and best answer I have ever heard of for that, and I actually understood it.  Thanks!

[theymos]

That said, quantum computing is here...

QC doesn't break SHA-256.

[neurobox]

That said, quantum computing is here...

QC doesn't break SHA-256.

I sure hope not. Time will tell.

[keyzersoze]

Informative and clear answer bro
Thanx.

[neurobox]

Glad to help.

[alani123]

A hash is string of numbers/letters/etc resulting from a one-way cryptographic routine. Any slight change in the input results in drastic changes to the output, but identical inputs always yield identical outputs. The output can be used to "identify" matching inputs without any possibility of determining what the inputs actually were.

Most websites, instead of storing passwords, will store a hash of the password. When a password is entered, it is hashed, and if the resulting hash is identical, they know you entered the correct password.

Traditionally this was done with md5 hashes, but now most md5 hashes can be pasted into google and the input is known. This cannot be the case with bitcoin, as the keys are far too complex and unique, and most transactions double up on the NSA-grade SHA256 hash, making it effectively impossible to break. That said, quantum computing is here...

I'm saving this in a text document... lol
I don't think even the wiki has it in such detail.

[drwho88888]

Thx neurobox. Much appreciated.

[motnahp]

What exactly are Hashes and how are they created ?

google for "rfc sha256"

[JSMill]

I have had heard that quantum computing will not have a great impact on Bitcoins.  Could anyone explain the technical aspects of why?

[rme]

I have had heard that quantum computing will not have a great impact on Bitcoins.  Could anyone explain the technical aspects of why?

You have to generate every single bitcoin address possible to crack one.

That is not possible.

[JSMill]

I have had heard that quantum computing will not have a great impact on Bitcoins.  Could anyone explain the technical aspects of why?

You have to generate every single bitcoin address possible to crack one.

That is not possible.

Thanks.  Not so worried about cracking individual bitcoin addresses but more worried about security of the blockchain.  I had heard that they cannot be used for hashing.  Could you explain why they cannot be used for hashing?

[cedivad]

I have had heard that quantum computing will not have a great impact on Bitcoins.  Could anyone explain the technical aspects of why?

You have to generate every single bitcoin address possible to crack one.

That is not possible.

Spent addresses could theorically be cracked with qc. Unspent ones, not. as the boss pointed out sha-256 is safe, so should be bitcoin as a whole. Spent addresses, however, might be compromised.

[skippylou]

Just remember that the road of the past few decades is littered with broken hashes: MD4, MD5, SHA0, SHA1 and many others.

[DannyHamilton]

Just remember that the road of the past few decades is littered with broken hashes: MD4, MD5, SHA0, SHA1 and many others.

And yet bitcoin could use anyone of them today instead of SHA2 and there wouldn't be a security issue.

The fact that a weakness is discovered in a particular hashing algorithm doesn't necessarily mean that the algorithm is then immediately useless for all purposes.

[skippylou]

Just remember that the road of the past few decades is littered with broken hashes: MD4, MD5, SHA0, SHA1 and many others.

And yet bitcoin could use anyone of them today instead of SHA2 and there wouldn't be a security issue.

The fact that a weakness is discovered in a particular hashing algorithm doesn't necessarily mean that the algorithm is then immediately useless for all purposes.

If SHA2 were broken the breaker could mint coins at a faster rate than brute force.  How much faster depends, could be tens or hundreds of times faster..  If the breaker is intelligent, he/she could slowly cash in over a period of a few years, walk away with a pile of cash and a world full of inflated Bitcoins.  This would be an opportunity to cash in on research without the guilt of doing anything illegal or immoral.  Don't look for them to publish a paper in ASIACRYPT14.

Another point, when a break is found it is usually followed by a improved break in a few months or so.