1. A method comprises: processing a data retrieval request that identifies data, wherein the data is stored in dispersed storage memory as a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, wherein one or more encoded data slices of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices has been replaced with one or more encoded secret data slices, and wherein the one or more encoded secret data slices represents secret data; receiving, in response to the processing the data retrieval request, at least a threshold number of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices; determining whether a secret data extraction process is initiated, wherein the determining whether the secret data extraction process is initiated includes at least one of: the data retrieval request further including a request to initiate the secret data extraction process; receiving a secret data extraction request to initiate the secret data extraction process; and interpreting the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to identify a pattern of invalid encoded data slices; interpreting the pattern of invalid encoded data slices as a secret data pattern; and initiating the secret data extraction process when the secret data pattern is valid; and when the secret data extraction process is initiated: obtaining an inter-dispersing function to extract the one or more encoded secret slices from the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to produce extracted encoded secret slices; and decoding the extracted encoded secret slices in accordance with secret dispersed storage error encoding parameters to reproduce the secret data.