CyberGuard dictionary / Incident Response
Eradication
Eradication is the response work that removes the cause and remaining footholds of an incident after immediate harm has been contained.
In simple terms
Removing a malicious file alone may not be enough; attackers can leave accounts, tasks, or exploited weaknesses behind.
Technical explanation
Responders identify affected hosts and services, remove persistence, disable compromised identities, close exploited entry points, and verify that the unwanted activity has stopped before recovery proceeds.
Removing a visible process is not enough if stolen credentials, startup tasks, or the exploited weakness remain. Verification should include the original entry point and any connected systems.
Examples in practice
After isolating an infected workstation, the team rebuilds it, revokes stolen credentials, and patches the exploited application.
The workstation is rebuilt, but logs show the attacker also created a cloud API key. The team revokes that key and tests the patched entry point before returning the device to use.
Why it matters
Incomplete eradication lets the same attacker or mechanism return during recovery.
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Sources and further reading
Published 2026-10-15 · Last updated 2026-10-15 · CyberGuard editorial content. Source links provide context; they do not imply endorsement.