public static String getSignature(File root, String hashMethod, boolean includeFileStamps) throws IOException {
    try {
        MessageDigest digest = MessageDigest.getInstance(hashMethod);
        digest.reset();
        InputStream input = new FileInputStream(root);
        byte[] buffer = new byte[4 * 1024];
        int nbBytes;
        while ((nbBytes = input.read(buffer)) > 0) {
            digest.update(buffer, 0, nbBytes);
        }
        if (includeFileStamps) {
            digest.update((root.canRead() + ":" + root.canWrite() + ":" + root.lastModified() + ":" + root.length()).getBytes());
        }
        input.close();
        byte[] signature = digest.digest();
        ExtendedString result = new ExtendedString(32);
        for (byte value : signature) {
            result.append(ConversionUtilities.toHexString(0x00FF & value));
        }
        return result.toString();
    }
    catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException e) {
        throw new RuntimeException(e);
    }
}