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to exfiltrate

to exfiltrate

9.5
To secretly copy data or files from a computer system without permission
  • verb
  • /ˈɛksfɪltreɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : exfiltrar
  • And then we're going to go dive down into what data gets exfiltrated by these kinds of devices.

I got in and from that point on, I started to, to exfiltrate the data every single day, all the users.

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Examples

  • The Russians exfiltrated and disseminated private information but did not tamper with voting machines or change votes.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I got in and from that point on, I started to, to exfiltrate the data every single day, all the users.

  • And they do find that Android applications will try to exfiltrate data in ways that we're not exposed to the user.

  • General Hayden also opined that Russia effectively "weaponized the information" they exfiltrated in an attempt to erode confidence in our democratic system.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Hackers often exfiltrate sensitive data from corporate servers without detection.

  • The malware was designed to exfiltrate user credentials and personal information.

  • Security experts discovered that the attackers managed to exfiltrate files undetected over several weeks.

Synonyms

to exfil
vsto exfiltrate
  • Jargon
3 9.9

To take people or data out of a dangerous place without being seen

is specific to secret data transfer from computer networks without authorization

How Covert

to exfiltrate
  • Specialized
9.5
to extract
166 3.9
to export
  • Specialized
14 4.3
to transfer
528 2.7

Surface Forms

exfiltrate infinitive
exfiltrated past participle
exfiltrating present participle
exfiltrates third person singular

Morphology

exfiltrate = infiltrate (semi-transparent) = ex + filtr + ate

The word was coined by analogy with 'infiltrate', so knowing 'infiltrate' and 'ex-' helps suggest covert movement out, but this is not a simple literal ex- + filtrate formation.

Etymology

Exfiltrate comes from ex- meaning 'out' and infiltrate meaning 'to enter secretly'. So in computing to exfiltrate data is to quietly move files 'out' of a computer or network without permission.