diff --git a/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Checksum.java b/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Checksum.java
index 9c5084f8d..7a6526d21 100644
--- a/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Checksum.java
+++ b/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Checksum.java
@@ -19,7 +19,13 @@ import java.util.logging.Logger;
  * @author Real's How To: http://www.rgagnon.com/javadetails/java-0416.html
  *
  */
-public class Checksum {
+public final class Checksum {
+
+    /**
+     * Private constructor for a utility class.
+     */
+    private Checksum() {
+    }
 
     /**
      * <p>Creates the cryptographic checksum of a given file using the specified
@@ -104,4 +110,4 @@ public class Checksum {
         }
         return hex.toString();
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}