Depending on the version of the security application installed on devices on your network, you must select an algorithm for hash value computing by Kaspersky Security Center for files in this category. Information about computed hash values is stored in the Administration Server database. Storage of hash values does not increase the database size significantly.
SHA256 is a cryptographic hash function: no vulnerabilities have been found in its algorithm, and so it is considered the most reliable cryptographic function nowadays. Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows and later versions support SHA256 computing. Computing of the MD5 hash function is supported by all versions earlier than Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows.
Select either of the options of hash value computing by Kaspersky Security Center for files in the category:
- If all instances of security applications installed on your network are Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows or later versions, select the SHA-256 check box. We do not recommend that you add any categories created according to the criterion of the SHA256 hash of an executable file for versions earlier than Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows. This may result in failures in the security application operation. In this case, you can use the MD5 cryptographic hash function for files of the category.
- If any versions earlier than Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows are installed on your network, select the MD5 hash. You cannot add a category that was created based on the criterion of the MD5 checksum of an executable file for Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows or later versions. In this case, you can use the SHA256 cryptographic hash function for files of the category.
If different devices on your network use both earlier and later versions of Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10, select both the SHA-256 check box and the MD5 hash check box.
The Calculate SHA-256 for files in this category (supported by Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows and any later versions) check box is selected by default.
The Calculate MD5 for files in this category (supported by versions earlier than Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 Service Pack 2 for Windows) is cleared by default.