First-pass hash check: use disposable bytes

Start a new hashing workflow with a disposable text string or small sample file. Confirm the algorithm, text encoding, output format, and treatment of line endings by checking the result independently. Then test an altered byte and verify that the digest changes. Only after the workflow is understood should you use it for real files, and sensitive inputs are better handled locally. A successful sample tests the procedure; it does not turn a hash into encryption or authentication.