Systems and methods for detecting attempts to transmit sensitive information via data-distribution channels

A system for detecting attempts to transmit sensitive information via data-distribution channels, the system comprising:

• an identification module, stored in memory, that identifies an attempt to transmit a file through a data-distribution channel;
• a comparison module, stored in memory, that:
• compares, using an image-matching technique, the file with a plurality of known sensitive files that are both stored in image formats and protected by a data-loss-prevention policy;
• compares, using a finer image-matching technique, the file with at least one known sensitive file from the plurality of known sensitive files that was not discarded by the image-matching technique;
• a determination module, stored in memory, that determines, based on the results of the finer image-matching technique, that the file violates the data-loss-prevention policy;
• a security module, stored in memory, that performs a security action in response to determining that the file violates the data-loss-prevention policy;
• at least one physical processor configured to execute the identification module, the comparison module, the determination module, and the security module.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

• identify an attempt to transmit a file through a data-distribution channel;
• compare, using an image-matching technique, the file with a plurality of known sensitive files that are both stored in image formats and protected by a data-loss-prevention policy;
• compare, using a finer image-matching technique that consumes more computing resources than the image-matching technique, the file and at least one known sensitive file from the plurality of known sensitive files that was not discarded by the image-matching technique;
• determine, based on the results of the finer image-matching technique, that the file violates the data-loss-prevention policy;
• perform a security action in response to determining that the file violates the data-loss-prevention policy.