in reply to Re: Using MD5 and the theory behind it
in thread Using MD5 and the theory behind it

Although I'm certain that this approach works, and will continue to work, MD5 sums are not unique for every file. If they were, this would be the ultimate compression algorithm (that is, if the MD5 were unique, you could use it to reverse engineer the file using only the hash because each hash have only one possible antecedent). The odds of two similar files having the same MD5 sum, however, is very low.
  • Comment on Re: Re: Using MD5 and the theory behind it

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: Re: Using MD5 and the theory behind it
by saucepan (Scribe) on Jan 11, 2001 at 02:59 UTC
    Using one of these approximations, it looks like the probability of a birthday collision will finally hit 0.5 by about the time mr.nick has processed his 22 million million millionth MP3, so I'd agree that he has nothing to worry about for now. ;)