Q: What is MD5?

A: MD5 - Message Digest Algorithm. An algorithm created in 1991 by Professor Ronald Rivest that creates digital signatures. MD5 is a one-way hash function, meaning that it takes a message and converts it into a fixed string of digits, also called a message digest. Think of MD5 as a way to fingerprint your files. You download your files from company x and they say the MD5 is xxx. If you download the file and the resulting MD5 hash is not xxx then either 1.) the file was corrupted, by your computer or in transit over network lines, or someone has tampererd with the file before you downloaded it.

MD5 can help prevent hackers from changing code without you knowing it. This can help more people than just you if you were to tell the author that the MD5 was bad. Use MD5.