evil maid attack

noun

An attack on an unattended device, in which a person with physical access alters it in some undetectable way so that they can later secretly access it again.

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Meanings

nounevil maid attack (plural evil maid attacks)

plural evil maid attacks

  1. computer securityAn attack on an unattended device, in which a person with physical access alters it in some undetectable way so that they can later secretly access it again.

Origin

From the idea that a maid in a hotel might be able to carry out such an attack.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

evil maid attack. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evil%20maid%20attack

MLA

“evil maid attack.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evil%20maid%20attack. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “evil maid attack,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evil%20maid%20attack.

Source: evil maid attack on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.