HIV (.hiv)
.hiv file signature | application/octet-stream
The HIV file format is a Windows Registry hive file used and maintained by Microsoft Windows to store portions of the system registry. It is used to preserve configuration data for the operating system, installed software, user profiles, and device settings. Registry hives are generally safe to store and read, but incorrect modification can affect system stability; they are not a legacy format, though they are typically managed by administrative tools.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
72 65 67 66
Sources: Wikipedia
Extension
.hiv
MIME Type
application/octet-stream
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .hiv files in Python
def is_hiv(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid HIV by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x72, 0x65, 0x67, 0x66])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .hiv files in Node.js
function isHIV(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x72, 0x65, 0x67, 0x66]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .hiv files in Go
func IsHIV(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x72, 0x65, 0x67, 0x66}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/hiv
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/hiv
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .hiv file?
A .hiv file is identified by the magic bytes 72 65 67 66 at byte offset 0. The HIV file format is a Windows Registry hive file used and maintained by Microsoft Windows to store portions of the system registry. It is used to preserve configuration data for the operating system, installed software, user profiles, and device settings. Registry hives are generally safe to store and read, but incorrect modification can affect system stability; they are not a legacy format, though they are typically managed by administrative tools.
What are the magic bytes for .hiv files?
The magic bytes for HIV files are 72 65 67 66 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .hiv file?
To validate a .hiv file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (72 65 67 66) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .hiv files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .hiv files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .hiv files?
HIV (.hiv) files are generally safe to open. They are classified as low risk because they primarily contain data rather than executable code. However, always ensure files come from a trusted source.