What does integrity refer to in the context of email communication?

In the context of email communication, integrity refers to the assurance that the content of the email has not been altered or tampered with during transmission. Ensuring integrity means that the recipient can trust that the email they receive is exactly what the sender intended to send, without any modifications along the way, whether intentional or accidental. This is particularly important in secure communications where the authenticity and accuracy of the information are crucial.

Maintaining integrity typically involves various methods such as digital signatures and cryptographic hash functions, which help verify that the email content remains unchanged. By providing a means to detect alterations, these methods reinforce trust in the integrity of the communication. Thus, knowing that the content is untampered supports the overall reliability of the information exchanged through emails.