Why a report with SHA-256 strengthens documentation
Updated
A report circulated between a municipality, a landowner and a foundation can easily exist in several versions. A hash makes it possible to establish whether two files are exactly the same.
What is SHA-256?
SHA-256 is a cryptographic hash function standardised by NIST in FIPS 180-4. It creates a fingerprint of a file. If even a single character in the file is changed, the fingerprint becomes completely different.
How is it used in practice?
When a baseline report is locked, its hash is calculated. Recipients can calculate the hash of the file they have received themselves and compare the two. If they match, the file is unchanged.
A hash is not the same as truth
A hash shows that a file has not been changed. It does not show that the content is correct. This is why a baseline must also include sources, locations and a professional assessment attributed to a named individual.
Versions and audit trails
Freyra saves each report as a new version with its own hash rather than overwriting the old one. The audit trail shows who did what and when.
Frequently asked questions
Can you check a SHA-256 hash yourself?
Yes. Windows, macOS and Linux all have built-in tools that can calculate the SHA-256 hash of a file.
Does Freyra use blockchain?
No. Freyra uses standard versioning and SHA-256 hashes.