Which term describes data that has not been altered in an unauthorized way and remains trustworthy?

Which term describes data that has not been altered in an unauthorized way and remains trustworthy?

• A. Integrity
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Availability
• D. Authenticity

Answer: (A)

Integrity means data is accurate and unaltered from its original state. When data has not been changed in an unauthorized way, it remains trustworthy, which is why this term fits best. Safeguards like checksums, hash functions, and digital signatures help detect any tampering during storage or transmission, preserving that trust. This concept differs from confidentiality, which is about keeping data secret from unauthorized eyes; availability, which ensures data is accessible when needed; and authenticity, which verifies the source or origin of the data. An important nuance is that data can be authentic yet tampered with in transit, which would break integrity. Hence, data that remains unaltered and trustworthy is described by integrity.

Integrity means data is accurate and unaltered from its original state. When data has not been changed in an unauthorized way, it remains trustworthy, which is why this term fits best. Safeguards like checksums, hash functions, and digital signatures help detect any tampering during storage or transmission, preserving that trust. This concept differs from confidentiality, which is about keeping data secret from unauthorized eyes; availability, which ensures data is accessible when needed; and authenticity, which verifies the source or origin of the data. An important nuance is that data can be authentic yet tampered with in transit, which would break integrity. Hence, data that remains unaltered and trustworthy is described by integrity.