Data processing systems and methods for automatically detecting target data transfers and target data processing

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for protection of system software, or data from destruction, unauthorized modification, and/or unauthorized disclosure securing by, for example, detecting the transfer and/or processing of target data. Accordingly, a method is provided that involves: scanning a software application to identify functionality configured for processing target data; identifying fields associated with the functionality; identifying metadata associated with a field; generating, from the metadata, an identification of a type of data associated with the field; determining a location based on the processing of the target data by the functionality; determining a risk associated with the functionality processing the target data based on the location and the type of data; determining that the risk satisfies a threshold level of risk; and in response, causing an action to be performed to mitigate the risk.