BSI ID: G 0.46

The integrity of information can be compromised by various causes, e.g. manipulation, human error, incorrect use of applications, software malfunctions or transmission errors.

• The ageing of data carriers can lead to information loss.

• Transmission errors: Transmission errors can occur during data transmission.

• Malicious programs: Malicious programs can alter or destroy entire data sets.

• Incorrect entries: Incorrect entries can lead to unwanted transactions, which often go unnoticed for a long time.

• Attackers may attempt to manipulate data for their own purposes, e.g. to gain access to other IT systems or data sets.

• Manipulation of the index database can cause electronic archives to archive or reproduce falsified documents.

If information is no longer intact, a variety of problems can arise:

• In the simplest case, information can no longer be read and therefore cannot be processed further.

• Data can be accidentally or intentionally falsified in such a way that incorrect information is passed on. This can result in, for example, transfers being made in the wrong amount or to the wrong recipient, the sender details of emails being manipulated, and much more.

• If encrypted or compressed data records lose their integrity (even changing a single bit is enough), they may no longer be able to be decrypted or unpacked.

• The same applies to cryptographic keys; here, too, changing a single bit is enough to render the keys unusable. This also means that data can no longer be decrypted or checked for authenticity.

• Documents stored in electronic archives lose their evidential value if their integrity cannot be proven.