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SHA-384 Hash Generator

Generate secure SHA-384 cryptographic hashes instantly

Secure & Balanced

SHA-384 is a truncated version of SHA-512, part of the SHA-2 family. It provides excellent security with 384-bit output, offering a balance between SHA-256 and SHA-512. Widely used in SSL/TLS certificates and high-security applications.

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About SHA-384

SHA-384 (Secure Hash Algorithm 384-bit) is part of the SHA-2 family of cryptographic hash functions. It's essentially a truncated version of SHA-512, producing a 384-bit (48-byte) hash value, typically rendered as a 96-character hexadecimal number.

Common Use Cases:

  • SSL/TLS certificates and HTTPS connections
  • Digital signatures requiring 384-bit security
  • Applications needing more security than SHA-256
  • Government and enterprise security systems
  • File integrity verification
  • Blockchain and cryptocurrency applications
  • Secure authentication protocols

Security Features:

  • 384-bit output provides strong collision resistance
  • No known practical attacks or vulnerabilities
  • Higher security than SHA-256, more compact than SHA-512
  • Resistant to length extension attacks
  • Approved by NIST for secure applications
  • Suitable for long-term security requirements

Technical Details:

  • Output: 384 bits (96 hexadecimal characters)
  • Block size: 1024 bits
  • Rounds: 80 (same as SHA-512)
  • Designed by: NSA (2001)
  • Part of: SHA-2 family
  • Truncated from: SHA-512

Why Choose SHA-384:

  • Offers SHA-512 security with smaller output size
  • Ideal when 256 bits isn't enough but 512 is too much
  • Faster than SHA-512 on 64-bit systems (less data to output)
  • Commonly used in SSL/TLS certificate chains
  • Good balance of security and performance

Best Practices:

  • Use SHA-384 when you need more security than SHA-256
  • For passwords: Use bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2-SHA384
  • Always use salt when hashing sensitive data
  • Use HMAC-SHA384 for message authentication
  • Ideal for applications requiring 192-bit security level

SHA-384 provides excellent security with a balanced output size, making it ideal for applications requiring strong protection without the full 512-bit output.

SHA-384 Hash Generator: Balanced Security Cryptographic Hashing

Generate SHA-384 hashes instantly with our free online SHA-384 hash generator. SHA-384 (Secure Hash Algorithm 384-bit) is a truncated version of SHA-512, producing a 384-bit hash value displayed as a 96-character hexadecimal string. It offers an excellent balance between security and output size, providing stronger protection than SHA-256 while being more compact than SHA-512.

What is SHA-384?

SHA-384 was designed by the NSA and published in 2001 as part of the SHA-2 family. It uses the same algorithm as SHA-512 but truncates the output to 384 bits. This truncation doesn't compromise security - SHA-384 maintains the full security strength of SHA-512 while producing a smaller hash. The algorithm processes data in 1024-bit blocks through 80 rounds of cryptographic operations.

SHA-384 Applications

  • SSL/TLS Certificates: Widely used in certificate chains and HTTPS connections
  • Digital Signatures: Provides 192-bit security level for signing operations
  • Enterprise Security: Government and corporate applications requiring strong protection
  • File Integrity: Verify file authenticity with strong collision resistance
  • Blockchain: Some cryptocurrencies use SHA-384 for enhanced security
  • Authentication: Secure protocols requiring 384-bit hash output

Why SHA-384 is Secure

SHA-384 inherits the security properties of SHA-512, providing 192-bit security strength (2^192 operations to find collisions). This is significantly stronger than SHA-256's 128-bit security level. The truncation from 512 to 384 bits doesn't weaken the algorithm - it maintains full resistance to collision, preimage, and second preimage attacks. SHA-384 has been extensively analyzed by cryptographers worldwide with no significant vulnerabilities discovered.

SHA-384 vs Other Hash Functions

SHA-384 vs SHA-256: SHA-384 offers 50% more security bits (192 vs 128) with longer output. Choose SHA-384 when you need stronger security than SHA-256 but don't need the full 512-bit output.

SHA-384 vs SHA-512: Both have the same security strength, but SHA-384 produces smaller hashes (96 vs 128 hex characters). SHA-384 is slightly faster due to less output data.

SHA-384 vs SHA-512/256: SHA-512/256 produces 256-bit output with SHA-512 security, while SHA-384 produces 384-bit output. Choose based on your required output length.

SHA-384 vs MD5/SHA-1: SHA-384 is cryptographically secure while MD5 and SHA-1 are broken. Never use MD5 or SHA-1 for security applications.

Performance Characteristics

SHA-384 uses the same internal algorithm as SHA-512, making it well-optimized for 64-bit processors. On 64-bit systems, SHA-384 can be faster than SHA-256 due to native 64-bit operations. The smaller output size compared to SHA-512 means less data to transmit and store, making SHA-384 an excellent choice for applications where both security and efficiency matter.

SHA-384 in SSL/TLS

SHA-384 is commonly used in SSL/TLS certificate chains, particularly for Extended Validation (EV) certificates and high-security websites. Many certificate authorities use SHA-384 for intermediate certificates, providing stronger security than SHA-256 while maintaining compatibility with modern browsers and systems.

Best Practices for SHA-384

  • Use SHA-384 when you need stronger security than SHA-256
  • Ideal for applications requiring 192-bit security level
  • For password storage, use PBKDF2-SHA384, bcrypt, or Argon2
  • Use HMAC-SHA384 for message authentication codes
  • Consider SHA-384 for SSL/TLS certificates and digital signatures
  • Always use salt when hashing passwords or sensitive data
  • Never truncate SHA-384 hashes manually
  • Choose SHA-384 over SHA-512 when output size matters

When to Choose SHA-384

  • SSL/TLS certificates requiring strong security
  • Applications needing more than 128-bit security
  • Digital signatures with 192-bit security level
  • Enterprise and government security requirements
  • When SHA-256 isn't strong enough but SHA-512 is too large
  • Running on 64-bit systems for optimal performance
  • Long-term data integrity verification

Security Strength Comparison

Security strength (operations to break):

  • SHA-256: 2^128 (128-bit security)
  • SHA-384: 2^192 (192-bit security)
  • SHA-512: 2^256 (256-bit security)

SHA-384 provides significantly more security than SHA-256 while maintaining the same performance characteristics as SHA-512 on 64-bit systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SHA-384 more secure than SHA-256?

Yes, SHA-384 offers 192-bit security vs SHA-256's 128-bit, providing 50% more security bits and exponentially stronger protection.

Why use SHA-384 instead of SHA-512?

SHA-384 provides the same security strength as SHA-512 but with 25% smaller output (96 vs 128 hex characters), making it more efficient for storage and transmission.

Can SHA-384 be cracked?

No practical attacks exist against SHA-384. With 2^192 security strength, brute-forcing is computationally impossible with current and foreseeable technology.

Is SHA-384 good for passwords?

Use PBKDF2-SHA384, bcrypt, or Argon2 instead of plain SHA-384. These algorithms include salting and key stretching specifically designed for password storage.

How does SHA-384 relate to SHA-512?

SHA-384 uses the SHA-512 algorithm but outputs only the first 384 bits. It has the same internal security as SHA-512 with a more compact output.

Is SHA-384 approved for government use?

Yes, SHA-384 is approved by NIST and is used in government and military applications for secure communications and data protection.

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