Doxing is the act of revealing identifying information about someone online, such as their real name, home address, phone, financial, workplace, and other personal information. That information is then disseminated to the public without the victim's permission.
Although the practice of disclosing personal information without consent predates the Internet, the term identity theft first emerged in the online hacker world in the 1990s, when anonymity was considered sacred. Feuds between rival Doxers sometimes led to someone deciding to "drop the docs" onto someone else previously only known by a username or alias. "Docs" became "dox" and eventually became a verb on its own (i.e. without the prefix "drop").
The definition of identity theft has expanded beyond the Doxer world community and now means revealing personal information. The term is still used to describe the unmasking of anonymous users, but with most people using their real names on social media today, that aspect is less relevant.
In recent years, spoofing has become a tool of cultural warfare, with rival Doxers robbing opponents on the other side. Doxer aims to escalate conflicts with targets online and into the real world by disclosing information that includes:
Bank account or credit card information
Private correspondence
Criminal history
Personal photos
Embarrassing personal details
Home addresses
Workplace details
Personal phone numbers
Social security numbers
Identity stealing attacks range from the relatively trivial, such as fake email registration or pizza delivery, to the much more dangerous, such as harassing family members or employers, identity theft, threats, or other forms of cyberbullying or harassment to people.
Celebrities, politicians, and journalists are among those who suffer from online mobs, fear for their safety, and, in extreme cases, face death threats. This practice has also spread to prominent company executives. For example, Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard's LinkedIn profile was shared on 4chan when Proctor & Gamble's Gillette released a We Believe ad claiming to target toxic masculinity.
Breaching entered mainstream awareness in December 2011, when the Doxtivist group Anonymous exposed the details of 7,000 law enforcement officers in response to an investigation into doxing activity. Since then, Anonymous has claimed hundreds of KKK members, and its most recent targets have included Q-Anon supporters.
Motives for identity theft are manifold. People may feel that they have been attacked or insulted by a target and seek revenge as a result. If someone is known for having controversial opinions, you may be able to target those with opposing views. However, this tends to happen when topics are particularly polarizing rather than casual political disagreements.
Intentionally disclosing personal information online usually comes with the intention of punishing, intimidating, or humiliating the victim in question. That said, Doxer's can also see their actions as a way to right a perceived wrong, to put someone on trial in the public eye, or to reveal a previously undisclosed agenda.
Regardless of the motive, a key purpose of identity theft is an invasion of privacy and can put people in uncomfortable situations, sometimes with dire consequences.
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