What characteristic makes hash values particularly useful in data integrity verification?

Hash values are particularly useful in data integrity verification because they are very sensitive to changes in data values. When even a single bit of data is altered, the hash value generated from that data will change dramatically. This quality ensures that any tampering or corruption of the original data can be easily detected by comparing the hash of the original data with the hash of the potentially altered data.

This extreme sensitivity to changes enables systems and processes that rely on hash functions to verify that data has remained unchanged over time. For instance, if a file is stored or transmitted, a hash value calculated before the operation can be checked against a hash value calculated afterwards. If the two hashes match, it confirms that the data integrity has been maintained; if they don't, it signifies that the data has been altered or corrupted in some way.

The other characteristics mentioned in the options do not align with the primary function of hash values in ensuring data integrity. For instance, the ability to easily alter a hash value would undermine its integrity verification purpose. Similarly, stating that hash values are not sensitive to changes in data would contradict their fundamental characteristic that makes them valuable for integrity checks. Lastly, hash values are designed to produce a fixed-size output rather than store large amounts of data, which is another