What defines data exfiltration in a network context?

Data exfiltration refers to the unauthorized transfer of data from a computer or network. In a network context, this often involves sending data out of the organization’s secure environment without the knowledge or consent of the user or administrators. The correct answer describes this process as “sending data in the background without user visibility,” which indicates that the data is being extracted covertly, allowing the perpetrator to access sensitive information without alerting those who have legitimate access to the network.

Other options do not accurately capture the essence of data exfiltration. For instance, reorganizing data for better access focuses on optimizing data management and retrieval processes rather than unauthorized transfer. Decrypting data for analysis implies that data is being made accessible for legitimate reasons, such as research or business insights, rather than being taken out of the network. Backing up data to cloud storage is a normal, often secure, practice and does not suggest any illicit transfer of data. Thus, the definition of data exfiltration aligns closely with the description of sending data without user visibility.