What property does a digital signature possess regarding data integrity?

A digital signature is fundamentally linked to the concept of data integrity. The correct choice indicates that a digital signature changes with any modification to the data. This is due to the cryptographic nature of how digital signatures are created. When a digital signature is applied, it is based on the content of the document or data being signed, typically using a hashing algorithm.

If any modification occurs to the original data, even a slight one, the hash value generated from that data will change. Therefore, the digital signature derived from the original hash will no longer match the new hash created from the modified data. This mismatch serves as a clear indication that the data has been altered, thereby confirming that the integrity of the data has been compromised.

This characteristic is crucial for ensuring trust and security in communications and transactions where integrity is paramount, such as in legal documents, software distribution, and secure communications. It underscores the reliability of digital signatures in providing a method for verifying that data remains unchanged from the time it was signed.