stepping stone
- noun
- /ˈstɛpɪŋ stoʊn/
- Specialized
:
equipo intermediario
- Each compromised server acted as a stepping stone for the hacker to access deeper parts of the system.
And usually how it evades detection is to incorporate several stepping stones between itself and the machine.
- And usually how it evades detection is to incorporate several stepping stones between itself and the machine.
Examples
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The attacker used multiple stepping stones to disguise his path through the network.
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In a cybersecurity breach, a stepping stone can help anonymity while accessing sensitive data.
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And usually how it evades detection is to incorporate several stepping stones between itself and the machine.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase evokes the literal image of stones you step on to cross something, so a learner who knows 'step' and 'stone' can likely infer the general sense 'an intermediate means to reach a goal.' However, the extension to a technical cybersecurity sense (a compromised machine used as an intermediary) is a domain-specific metaphorical use that may not be fully predictable without exposure, so it is not fully transparent.
Etymology
Stepping stone uses the same picture of stepping from stone to stone to reach farther ground. So in computing a computer that a hacker uses to reach other machines or to hide where they started is called a stepping stone.