Difference between sha1 and sha256

In this article, we will discuss the difference between sha1 and sha256. But before discussing their differences, we must know about the sha1 and sha256.

Sha1: (Secure Hash Algorithm)

An algorithm for cryptographic hashing that is used to assess the integrity of a specific piece of data is called the Secure Hash Algorithm or SHA for short.

SHA was created in the United States by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and released by the National Security Agency (NSA). Digital signature protocols, message authentication codes, and other cryptographic applications requiring data integrity and security frequently use the SHA family of hash functions. The National Security Agency of the United States is credited with proposing the cryptographic hash function known as SHA1. It accepts an input and outputs a 160-bit hash value. Moreover, this function converts the output it produces into a 40-digit hexadecimal number. This algorithm assists in making sure that no data on the website is altered or tampered with. It achieves this by creating distinct hash values from any given file or variation of a file. By comparing these hash values to the expected hash value and the received hash value, it is possible to ascertain whether or not the file has been altered. In order to strengthen security and make it more difficult for attackers to decrypt hashes, SHA hash sizes are growing as computers get more powerful. SHA0, a 160-bit hash released in 1993, was the initial iteration of the secure hash algorithm.

SHA-256:

It is introduced as a 2000 update to the SHA functions family. SHA-256 is a more recent and secure cryptographic hash function that was later adopted as the FIPS standard in 2002. For any string or input value, a SHA256 hash can be generated using a hash generator tool. Furthermore, the internal state size is 256 bits, the original message size can reach 264-1 bits, and it produces 256 hash values.

Main Differences between the Sha1 and Sha256

There are several main differences between Sha1 and Sha256. Some main differences are as follows:

Output:

• A 160-bit (20-byte) hash value is produced by SHA-1.
• As the name implies, SHA-256 generates a hash value that is 256 bits (32 bytes).

Security:

• It has been demonstrated that SHA-1 is susceptible to collision attacks, in which two distinct inputs result in the same hash output. Over time, SHA-1 has been rendered obsolete in numerous applications due to the growing exploitation of these vulnerabilities.
• On the other hand, SHA-256 is regarded as being far more secure than SHA-1. For the majority of cryptographic applications, it is currently regarded as safe and provides a higher level of resistance to collision attacks.

Performance:

• Because of its smaller output size, SHA-1 computes more quickly than SHA-256.
• However, SHA-256 is slower that SHA1 because of its larger output size, SHA-256 provides a higher level of security, making it more appropriate for applications where security is of the utmost importance.

Example:

For Sha1:

For Sha256:

Explanation:

160 bits (20 bytes) make up the SHA-1 hash output, which is 2ef7bde608ce5404e97d5f042f95f89f1c232871.

The SHA-256 hash output is a591a6d40bf420404a011733cfb7b190d62c65bf0bcda32b57b277d9ad9f146e, and it has a length of 256 bits, or 32 bytes.

Key differences between Sha1 and Sha256

There are several main differences between Sha1 and Sha256. Some main differences are as follows:

Conclusion:

In conclusion, cryptographic hash functions SHA-1 and SHA-256 have different characteristics that make them appropriate for various uses. The old-fashioned, quick, and straightforward SHA-1 algorithm has been demonstrated to be vulnerable to collision attacks.

Comparatively, SHA-256 is a more recent and secure algorithm that generates a larger digest size, which makes it perfect for critical applications where security is of the utmost importance. SHA-1 is no longer advised for new applications or those needing strong security guarantees. However, it may still be used in certain legacy systems and applications. It is crucial to select the appropriate hash function according to the application's unique needs to guarantee the data's security and dependability.