Cryptographic hash functions are sometimes used to create pseudo IDs from identifiable info like NHS numbers. An advantage of this approach is that two sites that have no way to communicate with each other will generate the same pseudo ID, allowing data to be linked. A disadvantage is that, although in general hashes are impossible to inverse, a rainbow table lookup attack can be used to inverse the hash when the space of inputs is relatively small, as is the case for ID numbers. John Cook explores.
Suggested citation: Fugard, A. (2023, March 29). Privacy implications of hashing data, by John Cook [blog post]. https://andifugard.info/privacy-implications-of-hashing-data-by-john-cook/
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