T 5.71 Loss of confidentiality of classified information

In the case of classified information (such as passwords, person-related data, certain business-related and official information, research & development data) there is an inherent danger of the confidentiality of this information being impaired inadvertently or intentionally. Classified information can be tapped from various sources, including

• Internal storage media (hard disks)

• External storage media (floppy disks, magnetic tapes)

• Printed paper (hardcopies, files) and

• data communications lines.

There are various ways of actually obtaining the confidential information:

• Reading out data

• Copying data

• Reading of data backups

• Theft of data media for the purpose of evaluation

• Monitoring data transmission lines

• Viewing data on a screen.

The more classified a piece of information, the higher the incentive for third parties to obtain and misuse it.