attack surface / vulnerability
die Angriffsfläche, die Angriffsflächen
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attack surface
A point or characteristic at which someone or something can be attacked, criticized, or harmed. The word is used literally and often in a figurative sense.
Seine widersprüchlichen Aussagen boten der Opposition eine große Angriffsfläche.
His contradictory statements gave the opposition a major point of attack.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Angriffsflächen |
| genitive | der Angriffsfläche |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Angriffsfläche | die Angriffsflächen |
| accusative | die Angriffsfläche | die Angriffsflächen |
| dative | der Angriffsfläche | den Angriffsflächen |
| genitive | der Angriffsfläche | der Angriffsflächen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Angriffsfläche' consists of 'Angriff' (attack) and 'Fläche' (surface), connected by an 's'. Here, 'Fläche' can also refer figuratively to part of someone's behavior or a statement.
Sein Verhalten im Wahlkampf gab den Medien reichlich Angriffsfläche.
His behavior during the election campaign gave the media plenty of ammunition.
Common collocations include 'die Angriffsfläche vergrößern' (to increase the attack surface), 'verringern' (to reduce it), or 'minimieren' (to minimize it). These describe how the risk of attacks or criticism changes. With 'bieten' (to offer), the phrase says that someone gives others a reason to attack or criticize: 'jemandem eine Angriffsfläche bieten' (to offer someone an opportunity to attack or criticize; the person doing the attacking is in the dative, 'eine Angriffsfläche' is in the accusative).
Regelmäßige Sicherheitsupdates verringern die Angriffsfläche eines Computersystems.
Regular security updates reduce the attack surface of a computer system.
Mit einer sorgfältigen Vorbereitung bieten wir unseren Kritikern wenig Angriffsfläche.
By preparing carefully, we give our critics little ammunition.
