How do I detect if a file on my USB drive was tampered with?

[moonman239]

If I should lose my drive, I don't care if someone sees what's inside. I do care, however, if somebody managed to tamper with any one of my files without my permission.

If there's a program that will run on Windows and Mac that I can load onto my USB drive, that would be fine. You know what? I could create one, using my Java skills - after all, it's a pretty safe bet that every device into which a USB drive is plugged will have a Java runtime environment of some kind installed.

 

[chown33]

Message digest.

 

[jc1350]

In terminal, run this command:

openssl sha256 path/to/filename

You wil need to know the valid/correct digest/hash so you have something to which you can compare the results.

If you don't want to fool with terminal, you can get a Finder extension or whatever called HashTab. I have an older (free) version and it's excellent (although I'm a command line junkie and usually use BASH aliases for the openssl commands).

Hashtab is now available on Mac only in the App store, but it's only $1.99. Worth it if you deal with file hashes and even a semi-regular basis.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hashtab/id517065482?mt=12

 

[Natzoo]

I am a noob to terminal, how do you get so good with it? any tips

 

[leman]

I am a noob to terminal, how do you get so good with it? any tips

Like any other thing, practice