SHA-384 generator

SHA-384 generator

SHA-384 is a cryptographic hash function that belongs to the SHA-2 family, which was designed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It is an extended version of SHA-256 and provides a larger hash size for enhanced security.

SHA-384 produces a fixed-size 384-bit hash value from variable-length input messages. Like other hash functions, the primary purpose of SHA-384 is to provide data integrity and authenticity by generating a hash value unique to a specific input message. Even a small change in the input message will result in a significantly different hash value.

Key features of SHA-384 include:

• Security: SHA-384 is designed to provide a high level of security against various cryptographic attacks, including collision attacks, preimage attacks, and second preimage attacks.
• Avalanche Effect: Similar to other cryptographic hash functions, SHA-384 exhibits the avalanche effect, where a small change in the input message leads to a vastly different hash value.
• Larger Hash Size: SHA-384 produces a larger hash size compared to SHA-256, which means it provides a higher level of security due to the increased number of output bits.
• Efficiency: While SHA-384 is slower than SHA-256 due to its larger hash size, it is still considered efficient for most practical applications.
• Message Length: SHA-384 is suitable for hashing messages of any length and produces a fixed-size 384-bit hash value.
• Use Cases: SHA-384 is used in various security-sensitive applications, such as digital signatures, data integrity verification, and other scenarios where a higher level of security is desired.

When using SHA-384 for security-sensitive applications, it's important to follow recommended practices and guidelines, similar to those used with other hash functions. This includes salting passwords before hashing, using unique seeds for random number generation, and staying informed about the latest developments in cryptography.

As with any cryptographic primitive, the security of SHA-384 depends on the integrity of the implementation, the strength of the underlying platform, and adherence to best practices.