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Information integrity concerns preserving information against unauthorized alteration or destruction under a stated policy, and detecting violations when they occur. It is distinct from confidentiality: a public record can require strong integrity even though everyone may read it.^[ref]

For example, a downloaded scientific dataset can be checked against a trusted checksum to detect accidental corruption. If an attacker can replace both the dataset and its published unprotected hash, that check does not establish authenticity. A message authentication code uses a secret key, while a digital signature permits verification with a public key. These mechanisms protect particular data and contexts; an authorized but mistaken measurement can retain its cryptographic integrity while still being scientifically incorrect.