I’ve created a tool to help a friend in teaching digital security to people who aren’t that technically savvy.
The problem is simple: a lot of users get scared and hesitant the moment they’re asked to open a terminal window. That makes it hard to teach them about cryptographic hashes and how to verify downloads. At present he’s using an unmaintained crossplatform GUI to do it, Ted Smith’s QuickHash-GUI, but that application has its own problems — it’s just too complex for nontechnical users.
So I wrote my own replacement. Enter QuickerHash, which I’m trying to keep as dead simple as possible and as easy to use as possible. This means providing not just the code, but complete installer packages that are cryptographically signed so as to not cause security alerts. The user interface is dead simple, uses modern design, and requires little explanation.
Figure 1: The QuickerHash text tab
Figure 2: the QuickerHash file tab
I need testers. Specifically, Fedora and MacOS testers. (Once I have these verified as working I’ll get around to creating a Windows version.)
Interested?
Fedora users can grab an RPM here. Note that it installs into /opt/QuickerHash, like most third-party software. You should be able to find it in the GNOME applications menu under utilities. (Note that this is theoretical: I don’t actually have a Fedora box to do testing on.)
MacOS users can grab a disk image here.
It hasn’t yet been released: this is the first time it’s being run outside of my MacBook. Use with caution, handle with care, and expect problems. Email me (rjh@sixdemonbag.org) with any errors.
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