T 5.85 Loss of integrity of information that should be protected

If data integrity is lost, a multitude of problems can occur:

• In the most simple case, data can no longer be read, that is to say processed.

• Data can be falsified, either accidentally or maliciously, in such a way that this results in false information being passed on. For instance, credit transfers can be made out to the wrong amount or sent to the wrong person, the details of the sender of E-mails can be manipulated, and much more.

• If encoded or compromised data records lose their integrity - and the alteration of just one bit is enough - they can no longer be decoded or unpacked.

• The same applies to cryptographic codes, where the alteration of just one bit is enough to make the code useless. Likewise, this means that data can no longer be decoded or checked for their authenticity.

Loss of integrity can occur in several ways:

• Information can be lost through the expiration of data carriers.

• Transmission errors can occur when data is transmitted.

• Computer viruses can alter or destroy entire collections of data.

• False entries can cause undesired transactions which even remain unnoticed for a long time.

• Perpetrators can attempt to manipulate data for their purposes, e.g. to gain access to other IT systems or collections of data

© Copyright by Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik 2000

Last Update on 6 April 2000