Question scenario
You have read about doxing or doxxing. What does it mean?
Answer
Doxing is the act of publicizing via the internet previously cloaked data about an individual or an organization. It is the unmasking of a formerly anonymous person to identify the target with an embarassing fact or allegation. Controversially connecting a person to something humiliating on a website is doxing. It can be illegal in certain circumstances.
Here are other excerpts:
"...doxing is the act of revealing someone’s sensitive information online. Hackers use doxing to harass, threaten, or get revenge on others." (Taken from https://www.avast.com/c-what-is-doxxing.)
"The term 'Doxing' is short for "dropping dox" 'dox' being slang for documents. Typically, doxing is a malicious act, used against people with whom the hacker disagrees or dislikes." (Taken from https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/what-is-doxing.)
"The term doxxing (sometimes spelled doxing) is a longtime hacker term derived from “dropping dox” or documents about an adversary. Motivations range from personal revenge to political ends. " (Taken from https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/privacy/what-is-doxxing.)
"Doxing is a form of cyberbullying that uses sensitive or secret information, statements, or records for the harassment, exposure, financial harm, or other exploitation of targeted individuals." (Taken from https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/doxing.)
"To spare someone shame, that is what I regard as humane." -Friedrich Nietzsche