An MD5 or SHA1 hash of a specific media generated by EnCase will yield the same hash value as an independent third-party MD5 or SHA1 hashing utility.

The correct assertion is that an MD5 or SHA1 hash generated by EnCase will produce the same hash value as an independent third-party hashing utility when applied to the same data. This consistency is due to the nature of hash functions, which are designed to generate a fixed-size output (the hash value) from variable input data.

Hash functions are deterministic algorithms, meaning that the same input will always yield the same output. Consequently, whether you use EnCase or another independent hash utility, the underlying algorithm for MD5 or SHA1 will process the data in the same manner, resulting in identical hash outputs—as long as the data being hashed is exactly the same and has not been altered in any way.

It's important to understand that the integrity of the media is verified via these hashes. If two different hashing tools produce different hash values for the same media, it indicates either a discrepancy in the data being analyzed or an issue with one of the hashing processes. Hence, the reliability and authenticity of hashing algorithms are fundamental to forensic examinations, as they ensure the consistency and validity of the data being investigated.