← Years 9–10 Digital Systems

Integrity

Data stays accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes it. Accidental or deliberate changes break it, such as a tampered bank balance.

Part of: 9-10 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Digital Systems and Security — Module 14, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 30, VCE Software Development - U4O2 - Cyber Security: secure software development practices — Module 16, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 72, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 82, VCE Data Analytics - U4O2 - Cyber Security: Data Security — Module 19, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 5.3 Cyber Security — Module 4, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Networked Systems and Access Control — Module 96, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Cyber Security Threats and Vulnerabilities — Module 4

Understanding Integrity in Years 9–10 Digital Systems

What it does: A typo changes the data without any bad intent, but the balance is now inaccurate, so integrity is broken. A teller is authorised to make this change and it is logged, so the data stays accurate and trustworthy. Integrity is about keeping data correct and unchanged by anyone who is not allowed to change it. Letting people reach data is a different idea (availability). A typing mistake is accidental. A criminal changing a record on purpose is a deliberate change. Both break integrity. Tampering on purpose without permission breaks integrity. An authorised teller correcting an error does not. Mixing up integrity with confidentiality is a common mistake. Integrity is about accuracy, not secrecy.

Common mistakes: The check is reversed, so only unauthorised users could change the balance. Integrity needs only authorised people to make changes: IF authorised THEN. A withdrawal must subtract from the balance. Adding it is an accidental error that makes the data inaccurate. It should be balance ← balance - withdraw.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Integrity to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 13–24) and word search (Modules 13–40).

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

Which statement best describes integrity in cyber security?

Data stays accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes itData can be reached by anyone who wants to see it

Matches

Integrity means keeping data secret from others

↓

This describes confidentiality, not integrity. Integrity is about data staying accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes it.

Applying

Meanings

Term

Integrity

Meaning

Data stays accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes it. Accidental or deliberate changes break it, such as a tampered bank balance.

Practice

balance ← 500

Testing

Gaps

userisauthorised THEN

Check Answer

Spots

1IF NOT authorised THEN

2 balance ← newBalance

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy

Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games

Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print

Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. Which statement best describes integrity in cyber security?

A. Data can be reached by anyone who wants to see it

B. Data stays accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes it ✓

Integrity is about keeping data correct and unchanged by anyone who is not allowed to change it. Letting people reach data is a different idea (availability).

2. A hacker secretly changes your bank balance from $500 to $5000. Which part of security has been broken?

A. Integrity ✓

B. Availability

The data was altered by someone who was not authorised, so it is no longer accurate. That breaks integrity.

3. Which one is an accidental change that breaks integrity?

A. A staff member types $1000 instead of $100 into a record ✓

B. A criminal edits a record to steal money on purpose

A typing mistake is accidental. A criminal changing a record on purpose is a deliberate change. Both break integrity.

4. True or false: Only deliberate attacks can break integrity.

A. False ✓

B. True

Accidental changes, like a typo or a software bug that corrupts a file, can also break integrity.

5. Who is allowed to change data without breaking integrity?

A. Any user on the network

B. An authorised person ✓

Integrity means data only changes when an authorised person makes the change.

Match the Pairs

Integrity → Data stays accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes it

balance = 5000 -> 50000 (hacker) → A deliberate change that breaks integrity, like a tampered bank balance

An accidental change can break integrity, such as a typing slip that makes a balance wrong → balance = 1500 -> 150 (typo)

An authorised change keeps integrity, because the update is approved and recorded → deposit +100 by teller (logged)

Integrity means keeping data secret from others → This describes confidentiality, not integrity. Integrity is about data staying accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes it.

Only hackers can break integrity → Integrity can also be broken by accidental changes, such as typing errors or software faults, not only deliberate attacks.

Key Term

Integrity

Data stays accurate and unaltered unless an authorised person changes it. Accidental or deliberate changes break it, such as a tampered bank balance.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF user_is_authorised THEN balance ← new_balance END IF

Hint: Type the keyword that starts a condition so only authorised users can change the balance.

2. withdraw ← 50 balance ← balance - withdraw

Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that reduces the balance by the withdrawal amount.

3. IF hash(file) ≠ stored_hash THEN alert("File changed") END IF

Hint: Type the comparison operator meaning 'not equal', which shows the data was altered.

4. IF NOT is_authorised THEN DISPLAY "Change blocked" END IF

Hint: Type the logical operator that reverses a condition, so unauthorised users are stopped.

5. backup ← balance balance ← 9999 balance ← backup

Hint: Type the variable that holds the saved original value to restore the tampered data.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A IF NOT authorised THEN

B balance ← newBalance

C ELSE

D display "Change denied"

Line A — The check is reversed, so only unauthorised users could change the balance. Integrity needs only authorised people to make changes: IF authorised THEN.

Question 2

A balance ← 500

B withdraw ← 120

C IF withdraw ≤ balance THEN

D balance ← balance + withdraw

Line D — A withdrawal must subtract from the balance. Adding it is an accidental error that makes the data inaccurate. It should be balance ← balance - withdraw.

Question 3

A storedHash ← hash(file)

B newHash ← hash(file)

C IF storedHash = newHash THEN

D display "File unchanged"

Line B — This hashes the original file again, so the hashes always match and tampering would never be found. It should hash the downloaded copy: hash(download).

Question 4

A old ← 800

B new ← 200

C IF new = old THEN

D display "Balance changed"

Line C — The test is wrong. It reports a change only when the values are equal. To detect a tampered balance it must check that they differ: IF new ≠ old THEN.

Question 5

A amount ← input()

B IF amount < 0 THEN

C balance ← balance + amount

D ENDIF

Line B — This accepts only negative amounts, so a typing slip could corrupt the balance and valid deposits are rejected. Validation should check that amount > 0.

Student with a class code? Join your class →