Data Exfiltration
The unauthorized transfer of sensitive data from a system or network.
Understanding Data Exfiltration
Attackers use multiple techniques to exfiltrate data, including:
Malware-Based Exfiltration – Uses Trojans, keyloggers, and rootkits to steal information.
Insider Threats – Employees misusing access privileges.
Cloud Data Theft – Attackers abuse misconfigured S3 buckets, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
Key Features of Data Exfiltration
Targeted at High-Value Data – Intellectual property, financial records, customer data.
Can Be Stealthy or Rapid – Some attacks occur over months, others within minutes.
Can Use Encrypted Channels – Attackers often use VPNs, proxies, or DNS tunneling.
Best Practices to Prevent Data Exfiltration
Deploy Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Solutions – Monitors and blocks unauthorized file transfers.
Use Network Segmentation – Restricts sensitive data from compromised endpoints.
Implement Zero Trust Architecture – Enforces least-privilege access controls.