Reading assignment: Hashing

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#3233

  1. What is the hashing algorithm called used in Bitcoin?

  2. Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)

  3. Why is this hashing algorithm really hard (almost impossible) to brute-force?

  4. Because of the number of possible outputs

1 Like
#3234
  1. Secure Hash Algorithm SHA256
    2.This algorithm can be only solved to find ultimate hash output, cannot be reversed to calculate initial raw data. One way mechanism quaranteed through mathematical equations which don´t allow reversal of new hash.
2 Likes
#3235

  1. SHA-256

  2. it is almost impossible to brute force because it has a 0 to 256 function that produces a different output and every input ,thus its nearly impossible to duplicate.

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#3236

  1. SHA-256

  2. The hashes produced by the hashing algorithm are “one way formulas”, meaning that the hash can not be reversed to find the original data. Different data still gives different hashes.

2 Likes
#3237

1- What is the hashing algorithm called used in Bitcoin?

The hashing algorithm used in Bitcoin is called SHA 256( Secure Hash Algorithm 256 bit). This algorithm forms the base of proof of Work.

2- Why is this hashing algorithm really hard (almost impossible) to brute-force?

The algorithm accepts data and transforms it into an alphanumeric string up to 256 characters. This is a function that is one way which means that once the output is created, one can not calculate to determine the original data. This makes it encrypted. Almost like fruits in a blender before and after. Just 1 mix after, can’t tell each fruit separately.
In brute force one is using computational power, energy to find it, but random numbers are generated between 0 and 256 making it almost impossible to guess successfully more than once. Too many possibilities. Also, the NSA of the USA uses SHA 256, so you’d think they would use al algorithm that is almost impossible to crack.

3 Likes
#3238
  1. Secure hash algorithm, also called SHA-256
  2. Because there are too many possibilities of combinations
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#3239

  1. The hashtag algorithm in Bitcoin is (SHA) - 256.

  2. Attempts to brute force discovery of original hashing algorithm is futile since the number of possibilities is astronomical, like trying to find a needle in a hay stack, more like a single needle buried in a million hay stacks!

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#3240

1 It’s named SHA-256

2 because this algorithm can only be solved to find the ultimate hash output. This output can go from 0 until 256 digits.
It can’t be reversed to calculate the initial data.

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#3241

1.Bitcoins hashing algorithm is called SHA-256.

  1. The hash algorithm is hard to brute force for the following reasons;

i. Its one-way and irreversible.
ii. The alphanumeric string is from 0-256 and is like the lottery.

QUESTION : Could it be possible with quantum computers to possible crack the hast algorithm? Which would be worrying - sorry if I am asking a dum question - all this is new to me. :blush:

3 Likes
#3242

Most quantum computers today are used for a specific task and can’t really break SHA256, maybe when they will be more developed in the future, at that time the network will have to fork to a new algo to remain secure. :slight_smile:

#3243

Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) named SHA-256

Everything that goes in are mix so much it can’t come out like the original version, like a blender. The only thing coming out are a string of letters and numbers. If a small coma is introduce at the start, the outcome will be completely different. It’s impossible to reverse the hash to it’s original data.

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#3244

  1. The bitcoin hashing algorithm is SHA-256.

  2. As time goes by and more and more bitcoin are produced, miners are forced to solve algorithms that are increasingly complex and require massive amounts of computing power.
    This makes it increasingly difficult for people to successfully brute-force the necessary algorithms to acquire more bitcoin. Furthermore, there are also more active bitcoin miners working today than when bitcoin began, which further reduces a miner’s chances of success in today’s world.

QUESTION: When this question refers to using brute-force, is it referring to the process of solving the algorithms to produce more bitcoin (which is how I answered it) or is it referring to attempts to reverse the algorithm and determine the original raw data? Also, when the article says “original raw data”, is that the same as the input value for the algorithm/function? Thanks in advance for your help!

1 Like
#3245
  1. What is the hashing algorithm called used in Bitcoin?

Secure Hash Algorithm - SHA - 256

  1. Why is this hashing algorithm really hard (almost impossible) to brute-force?

Hash algorithm produce the output through mathematical calculations, which are not reversal to reach back to the raw data input.

1 Like
#3246

1. What is the hashing algorithm called used in Bitcoin?
Secure Hash Algorithm SHA - 256

2. Why is this hashing algorithm really hard (almost impossible) to brute-force?
Hash algorithms are special because:

  • one input can lead to a single output
  • it’s virtually impossible to get to the original input just by having the output (if possible, BTC breaks)

(watching Ivan’s next video helped clarifying A LOT )

1 Like
#3247

SHA-256

A BTC hash is solved in a linear undirected manner and cannon be reverse.

1 Like
#3248

  1. What is the hashing algorithm called used in Bitcoin? SHA 256

  2. Why is this hashing algorithm really hard (almost impossible) to brute-force? CPU heavy as it gets more complex and it continues to grow more complex

1 Like
#3249

Bitcoin uses the hashing algorithm, called SHA-256
It is almost impossible to find a correct meaning of hash function (output) by brute-force because a number of combinations is almost endless

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#3250
  1. SHA 256 (Security Hash Algorithm)
  2. Because its hash can only be calculated one way. Its impossible to find back the raw data from the output.
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#3251

I think what the question refers to brute force is in which you mention where the ever increasing complexity of the algorithm contributes to the need of massive amount of computing power makes its impossible for hackers to overpower. The fact that the algorithm could not be reverse further adds that BTC could not be forced using brute force. I think combining both answers would best describe the difficulty of using brute force to break BTC. I believe original raw data refers to the same input value for the algorithm/function.

#3252

SHA256 on itself has nothing to do with mining. Mining is the process that utilizes hash functions to work. The reason why hash functions itself are difficult to brute force is because of the sheer number of possible outputs of the function. :slight_smile: