Doxing

Doxing (from dox, abbreviation of documents), or doxxing, is the Internet-based practice of researching and publicly broadcasting private or identifying information (especially personally identifying information) about an individual or organization. The methods employed to acquire this information include searching publicly available databases and social media websites (like Facebook), hacking, and social engineering. It is closely related to Internet privacy.

History

The term dox derives from the slang "dropping documents", which refers to the practice of collecting and posting private information about an individual without their consent, usually for purposes of incitement to hatred or violence against the individual. The concept of doxing is rooted in the hacker culture of the 1990s, when it was primarily used to reveal the identities of anonymous users who had angered or insulted others in the community.

Methods

Doxing may be carried out for various reasons, including to aid law enforcement, business analysis, risk analytics, and vigilante forms of justice or revenge. It is done by tracing the online presence of the individual across social media sites, public databases, and other websites. The information gathered may include the person's full name, known aliases, address, phone number, social security number, email address, and more.

Legal and ethical issues

Doxing is controversial and its legality varies depending on the jurisdiction. While it is generally not illegal to compile and share publicly available information, it may be illegal to share private information without consent, especially if it is done with the intent to harass or harm the individual. In some jurisdictions, doxing can be considered a form of stalking or harassment.

See also

• Cyberstalking
• Cyberbullying
• Internet privacy
• Social engineering (security)

Doxing Resources
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