Budget File and System Integrity Verification for Windows

Home users need an additional level of protection because the threats have increased and file and system integrity verification is able provide this. This paper defines file and system integrity verification; the threats to home users; how integrity verification works; cryptographic and non-cryptographic integrity verification algorithms; properties of good integrity verification algorithms; attacks against the integrity verification process; freeware windows tools; the future and the value of integrity verification tools to add protection to the home user. Integrity verification clearly has benefits in preventing, detecting and recovering from attacks for the security conscious home user but it has a long way to go to deliver similar benefits to the average home user. Integrity verification doesn't depend on virus/attack signatures but verification of downloaded files still is very cumbersome and with the current tools it is not possible to automatically this. Automation and Operating system integration is required and upcoming.