diff --git a/src/content/pages/knowledgebase/general/how-to-verify-a-file-checksum.md b/src/content/pages/knowledgebase/general/how-to-verify-a-file-checksum.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..dbf8aff8a --- /dev/null +++ b/src/content/pages/knowledgebase/general/how-to-verify-a-file-checksum.md @@ -0,0 +1,70 @@ +--- +title: How to verify a file checksum - IVPN Help +h1: How to verify a file checksum +url: /knowledgebase/general/how-to-verify-a-file-checksum/ +sections: + - general +sectionTitle: General +layout: help-details +weight: 50 +--- +# How to verify a file checksum + +"A checksum is a small-sized block of data derived from another block of digital data for the purpose of detecting errors that may have been introduced during its transmission or storage." - [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checksum) + +The IVPN App's [download page](/apps) and the [change log](https://github.com/ivpn/desktop-app/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md) hosted on GitHub include SHA256 checksums for each file. Verifying the checksum offers a way to confirm there are no errors with a downloaded file prior to installation. + +Modern versions of Windows, macOS, and Linux include built-in applications to verify a checksum with no additional software required. + +The calculation may take a few seconds and the output will be a 64-character string of numbers and letters. Compare the output with the checksum listed on the download page. + + +### Windows + +Open a **Command Prompt** (click the **Start** button > type `cmd`) and run the following commands by pressing Enter after each line: + +``` +cd Downloads +certutil -hashfile IVPN-Client-v3.X.Y.exe SHA256 +``` + +Using **Windows PowerShell** is another option: + +``` +cd Downloads +Get-fileHash .\IVPN-Client-v3.X.Y.exe +``` + +**Note:** Generally, a web browser will automatically select the `Downloads` folder to save files, though the downloaded DMG installed file might be elsewhere on your system. Also, use the actual file name instead of the `IVPN-Client-v3.X.Y.exe` example. + + +### macOS + +Open a **Terminal** window (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and run the following commands (press Enter/Return after each line to execute the command): + +``` +cd Downloads +shasum -a 256 IVPN-3.X.Y.dmg +``` + +**Note:** Generally, a web browser will automatically select the `Downloads` folder to save files, though the downloaded DMG installed file might be elsewhere on your system. Also, use the actual file name instead of the `IVPN-3.X.Y.dmg` example. + + +### Linux + +Open a Terminal or console window and run the following command, then press Enter: + +``` +sha256sum /path/to/ivpn_3.X.Y_amd64.deb +``` + +or: + +``` +sha256sum /path/to/ivpn-ui-3.X.Y-1.x86_64.rpm +``` + +**Note:** Please make a note of where you have saved the downloaded packages and use that path instead of `/path/to/` in the command above. Also, use the actual filename instead of the `3.X.Y` examples. + +For Linux, the `sha256sum` application is provided by the [coreutils](https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/) package. +