MD5 checksums help ensure the file was downloaded correctly from the sender. They confirm the integrity of your download, though they don't verify the file's source. To verify authenticity, ask: “Is this file truly from the project developers, or has it been altered?” This is where MD5 files become essential.
MD5 files accompany each downloaded package. When downloading a file, ensure you also get its MD5 file by clicking the “MD5” link next to it on the download page. For instance, to verify electrum-ton-4.2.9.exe, download electrum-ton-4.2.9.exe.md5.
Open a terminal (Linux/macOS) or Command Prompt (Windows) and navigate to the directory where the file is saved.
md5sum electrum-ton-4.2.9.execertutil -hashfile electrum-ton-4.2.9.exe MD5You will see a string of characters, which is the MD5 checksum of the file.
Compare the calculated MD5 checksum with the one provided in the MD5 file. If they match, the file has not been altered.
To verify the integrity, compare the MD5 checksum of your downloaded file with the MD5 checksum provided. Matching checksums mean the file is intact and unmodified.
Special thanks to Emily Johnson for creating these instructions.