what does dox mean

The term "dox" or "doxing" (also spelled "doxxing") refers to the act of publicly revealing or publishing private, personally identifiable information about someone, usually online and without their consent. This information can include home addresses, phone numbers, workplace details, social security numbers, bank account information, private correspondence, and other sensitive data. The main intent behind doxing is often to intimidate, harass, shame, or punish the targeted individual. The word originates from the phrase "dropping dox," where "dox" means documents, and it historically referred to hackers exposing confidential information about rivals to remove their anonymity. Today, doxing is recognized as a form of online harassment and cyberbullying with potentially serious consequences such as identity theft or physical harassment.