For PSA standards any pencil or ink marks will get a qualifier of "MK" or mark. Hell maybe even a shit stain will get an MK these days. I don't even know anymore.
Altered is such a broad term I can see where someone might get confused on the technicalities.
If you want to get really deep you could say that finger prints is altered stock. If a card has been touched it's no longer good. I know how some card collectors can get really obsessive about this stuff and I won't argue their point. It is what it is.