Why We Include SHA-256 Values on Download Pages

When you download a file, it’s important to make sure that file hasn’t been altered—accidentally or maliciously. That's why we post SHA-256 values (hashes) next to our installers and other downloadable files.

What’s a SHA-256 Hash?

A SHA-256 hash is like a digital fingerprint for a file. No matter how large the file is, the hash is always a fixed-length string of 64 hexadecimal characters. If even a single bit of the file changes, the hash will be completely different.

For example, someone could rename an executable file (like SET-IT-9.3.226.0-x64.exe) to make it look like a Word document (fiscal_report.docx). While the icon and name may fool users, the file’s hash remains the same—and that's how you can detect tampering.

How to Verify a SHA-256 Hash

You can check a file’s SHA-256 hash yourself:

On Windows PowerShell:

Get-FileHash "C:\Path\To\File.exe" -Algorithm SHA256

Or in Command Prompt:

certutil -hashfile "C:\Path\To\File.exe" SHA256

Compare the result to the hash value posted on the download page. If they match exactly, your file is authentic.

Why This Still Matters

Even though most users don’t verify hashes manually, hash functions are used behind the scenes in digital signatures, antivirus scanning, and secure downloads. Posting the SHA-256 hash is a transparent way to let anyone confirm file integrity—especially in cases where a file might be shared, renamed, or transferred via unofficial means.

It’s a small step that provides a strong guarantee: what you downloaded is exactly what we published.