What does tampering refer to in data security?

Tampering in data security specifically refers to unauthorized changes or manipulations of data. This can involve altering, deleting, or falsifying data without the consent or knowledge of the authorized users, leading to potential data integrity issues. Tampering can occur in various forms, such as modifying files, intercepting data in transit, or even altering records in a database.

Understanding tampering is crucial in the context of protecting data integrity. It highlights the importance of implementing security measures such as encryption, access controls, and audit logs to ensure that any unauthorized attempts to modify data are detected and prevented.

The other options reflect important aspects of data security but do not accurately define tampering. Monitoring communications and validating database integrity address separate facets of security management. Similarly, securely storing sensitive information is crucial for data protection but does not pertain to the concept of tampering itself.