# Detached Signature and File Integrity Verification

Generate or reproduce a file hash, compare it with a published checksum, and verify a detached Ed25519 signature with a separately trusted public key.

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/detached-signature-and-file-integrity-verification

- **Keywords:** detached signature verification, file integrity check, SHA-256 checksum, Ed25519 public key, hash comparison, artifact provenance

## Frequently asked questions

### Does a matching checksum prove that the file came from the claimed publisher?

No. It shows that the checked bytes match the reference value. The reference itself may be wrong or replaced, so publisher identity requires a separate trusted signature key or distribution channel.

### Can I verify any binary file directly with the signature tool?

Only if you can supply the exact signed message representation accepted by the tool. Raw bytes, canonical text, Base64 text, and a signed manifest are different inputs; do not change or guess the representation.

### What must I have for detached-signature verification?

You need the signature, the precise payload that was signed, the matching algorithm and encoding, the public key, and an independently confirmed fingerprint or trust source for that key.

### What should I do when the hash or signature fails?

Keep the original evidence, record the algorithm and inputs, and stop the acceptance decision. Check transfer, encoding, payload selection, and key provenance through the approved channel rather than trying alternate files until one passes.

## Related content

- [Binary Encoding, File Forensics, and Integrity Tools](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/binary-encoding-file-forensics-integrity): Inspect bytes and signatures, identify file types, measure entropy, and verify hashes or checksums in one safe forensic workflow.
- [File and Data Diff Comparison Tools](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/file-data-diff-comparison-tools): Compare two candidate artifacts, choose the right diff path for the format, review structural or semantic changes, and finish with integrity checks when approval needs byte-level certainty.