Abstract
This standard specifies hash algorithms that can be used to generate digests of messages. The digests are used to detect whether messages have been changed since the digests were generated. The Applicability Clause of this standard was revised to correspond with the release of FIPS 202, SHA-3 Standard: Permutation-Based Hash and Extendable-Output Functions, which specifies the SHA-3 family of hash functions, as well as mechanisms for other cryptographic functions to be specified in the future. The revision to the Applicability Clause approves the use of hash functions specified in either FIPS 180-4 or FIPS 202 when a secure hash function is required for the protection of sensitive, unclassified information in Federal applications, including as a component within other cryptographic algorithms and protocols. [Updates FIPS 180-4 (March 2012):
http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=910977]