Which security property ensures data is not altered and remains verifiable during transmission?

Which security property ensures data is not altered and remains verifiable during transmission?

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

Answer: (B)

Maintaining data integrity means the information remains exactly as it was sent, with any tampering detectable and verifiable by the receiver. During transmission, integrity is protected by mechanisms such as cryptographic hashes, message authentication codes (MACs), and digital signatures. A hash of the original message can be computed and sent along with the data; the recipient re-computes the hash and compares it to the sent value to confirm nothing was altered. MACs and digital signatures add a way to verify that the data came from a trusted source and has not been changed in transit. This capability to detect changes is what makes data integrity distinct from other properties: confidentiality is about keeping data secret, availability is about ensuring access when needed, and nonrepudiation is about proving who sent the data and preventing denial of sending it.

Maintaining data integrity means the information remains exactly as it was sent, with any tampering detectable and verifiable by the receiver. During transmission, integrity is protected by mechanisms such as cryptographic hashes, message authentication codes (MACs), and digital signatures. A hash of the original message can be computed and sent along with the data; the recipient re-computes the hash and compares it to the sent value to confirm nothing was altered. MACs and digital signatures add a way to verify that the data came from a trusted source and has not been changed in transit. This capability to detect changes is what makes data integrity distinct from other properties: confidentiality is about keeping data secret, availability is about ensuring access when needed, and nonrepudiation is about proving who sent the data and preventing denial of sending it.