Bang Jun-Young <junyoung@netbsd.org> writes:
> > In that case, what is the point of using an MD5 checksum?  A random number
> > of the same length would serve equally well.
> 
> Since MD5 checksum is known to have very good distribution (i.e. a lot less
> hash collision), it's the safest method to check for validity of the file.

No. Thor is absolutely correct. There is no advantage to an MD5
checksum of the file over any random function yielding 128 bits if you
do not check the hash later on. There is no need for a hash.

-- 
Perry E. Metzger		perry@piermont.com