exfiltrate

verb

ex·​fil·​trate eks-ˈfil-ˌtrāt 

ˈeks-(ˌ)fil-

exfiltrated; exfiltrating

transitive verb

1

: to remove (someone) furtively from a hostile area

Kublinski avoided detection. He was exfiltrated from Poland, with his family, only after being compromised by a leak from the U.S. government.

—Radek Sikorski

2

: to steal (sensitive data) from a computer (as with a flash drive)

intransitive verb

: to escape from a hostile area

exfiltration

ˌeks-(ˌ)fil-ˈtrā-shən 

noun

Examples of exfiltrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cybercriminals using ransomware to extort and exfiltrate are increasingly and brazenly targeting financial institutions. —Sean McElroy, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Rehberger's proof-of-concept exploit demonstrated that the vulnerability could be used to exfiltrate all user input in perpetuity. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2024

Under this model, a core group creates the infrastructure and malware for infecting systems throughout a network once an initial intrusion is made and then simultaneously encrypting critical data and exfiltrating it. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 13 May 2024

The attackers deployed ransomware to disrupt operations and exfiltrated vast amounts of sensitive data. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from exfiltration, from ex- entry 1 + (in)filtration

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1