information leak
Unauthorized disclosure event
An information leak is the unauthorized disclosure of confidential data, whether through carelessness, system vulnerabilities, or deliberate action.
The term covers everything from classified documents reaching journalists to customer data exposed through security breaches: The company suffered an information leak that compromised thousands of accounts.
In intelligence contexts, leaks may be strategic—officials sometimes leak information to shape public perception or test reactions.
- breachBreaking of agreement
- data breachUnauthorized access to protected information
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- classified documentsFiles with access restrictions
- top secretHighest classification level
whistleblower · deep throat · confidential · need to know · exposure · hack · disclosure · mole · secret · loose lips · sensitive · data · documents · paper trail · source · insider · security · national security
- leaksseepage, drip, drips, trickle, ooze
- breach of confidencebetrayal, disclosure, confidentiality breach, trust breach, blabbing
- cyberattacksmalware, phishing, ransomware, hack, virus
- information breachesdata breach, confidentiality breach, privacy breach, security breach, database breach
- insider threatsinsider threat, disgruntled employee, unauthorized access, credential theft, intellectual property theft
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
information leakdata protection
Securing sensitive information
information security · confidentiality · secrecy · data retention · non-disclosure
information leakcover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
concealment · censorship · redaction · classification · blackout
information, inform, informant, informed, informer, informing, informative, misinform, misinformation