What is integrity
The term integrity is used in Information security to indicate whether information has been changed or whether that information has errors in it. So, someone who changes the data in a file without proper authorisation will have compromised the integrity of that data. The most common attack on integrity, however, simply consists of input errors when that data/information is first put on a system or is updated.
Attacks on integrity and availability are sometimes difficult to separate as they may have similar effects: E.g is deleting half a database of customer contacts an attack on integrity or on availability? How about deleting the address of one customer? In general, however, malicious attacks on integrity can be much more dangerous than malicious attacks on availability, as they are often not detected that easily.
Related terms: