1 This paper presents a new hash function design, which is different from the popular designs of the MD4-family. Seen in the light of recent attacks on MD4, MD5, SHA-0, SHA-1, and on RIPEMD, there is a need to consider other hash function design strategies. The paper presents also a concrete hash function design named SMASH. One version has a hash code of 256 bits and appears to be at least as fast as SHA-256. 							
						
							
					 															
					Lars R. Knudsen