Verifying a Bitcoin Wallet on Linux using the sha1sum Command
As of Bitcoin 3.0, it’s no longer possible to download or verify the SHA256 hash of a bitaddress.org page directly. However, we can still use the sha1sum command to compare the generated hash with the original one.
The issue with verifying hashes on bitaddress.org
In January 2022, Bitmain, the company behind Bitcoin, announced that they would no longer allow users to download or verify the SHA256 hash of a bitcoin.org page. This change was likely due to security concerns and a desire to prevent potential exploitation.
As a result, using sha1sum on bitaddress.org will not work as intended. You’ll need an alternative method to compare your generated hash with the original one.
Verifying hashes using Linux
You can use the following command to verify that you used an authentic version of bitaddress.org:
sha1sum <(echo -n "$SHA256_HASH" | urlencode) > /dev/null
Let’s break down what this command does:
<(echo -n "$SHA256_HASH"): This executes a shell command that echoes the generated SHA256 hash string.
urlencode(): This function converts the input string to a URL-encoded format, making it safe for use in an HTTP header.
How to use the command
- Replace
$SHA256_HASHwith the actual SHA256 hash string you generated from the bitaddress.org HTML file.
- Save this command as a shell script or copy and paste it directly into your terminal.
- Make sure the script has execution permissions:
chmod +x script_name.sh
- Run the script using your terminal:
./script_name.sh
Example output
If you've correctly generated a SHA256 hash string, the output should be identical to the original bitaddress.org page. If not, something is amiss.
For example:
$ sha1sum <(echo -n "your_hash_here" | urlencode) > /dev/null
SHA256_HASH (your_hash_here) ... ... ...
Bitcoin Wallet Verification Failed.
Conclusion
While using sha1sum on bitaddress.org will not work as intended, this command provides a useful alternative for verifying the authenticity of your generated hash string. By following these steps, you should be able to verify that you used an authentic version of bitaddress.org and recover from any potential issues related to SHA256 hashes.