Spoofed: meaning, definitions and examples

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spoofed

 

[spuːft ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

computer security

Spoofed refers to the act of disguising oneself as someone else, often for malicious purposes, in order to deceive or trick others. This can involve altering the source of a communication or impersonating a user or service. Spoofing is commonly used in cyber attacks to gain unauthorized access to systems or sensitive information.

Synonyms

deceived, falsified, impersonated.

Examples of usage

  • The hacker spoofed an email address to trick the victim.
  • They used a spoofed caller ID to make it seem like they were calling from a legitimate company.
  • Many phishing attacks rely on spoofed websites to gather personal data.
Context #2 | Verb

general usage

In a broader sense, spoofed can also refer to making a parody or a humorous imitation of something, often in entertainment or media contexts. This form of spoofing is typically light-hearted, aimed at entertainment rather than deceit.

Synonyms

imitated, mocked, parodied.

Examples of usage

  • The movie spoofed several popular action films.
  • The comedian spoofed a well-known celebrity in his act.
  • They spoofed the advertisement to highlight its absurdity.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The term originated in the late 19th century, derived from a playful game where people would impersonate each other.
  • In the 20th century, 'spoof' began to be used in the context of satire and parody, especially in comedy.

Technology

  • In cybersecurity, spoofing is used by hackers to gain unauthorized access by disguising their identity.
  • Email spoofing involves forging the sender's address to trick recipients into believing the email is from a trusted source.

Pop Culture

  • The term gained mainstream popularity with films and shows known for their spoofing humor, like 'Scary Movie' and 'Airplane!'.
  • Spoofing can also refer to parodies of popular music, as seen in shows like 'Weird Al' Yankovic’s music parodies.

Psychology

  • Spoofing can exploit cognitive biases, making people more likely to fall for tricks if they trust the source.
  • The phenomenon of being easily fooled by spoofing relates to our brain’s tendency to recognize familiar patterns.

Literature

  • Satirical works often use spoofing to criticize societal norms or political figures, engaging readers in humor and reflection.
  • Classic literature, like 'Don Quixote', sometimes incorporates elements of spoofing by presenting exaggerated versions of reality.

Translations

Translations of the word "spoofed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 falsificado

🇮🇳 धोखा दिया गया

🇩🇪 gefälscht

🇮🇩 dipalsukan

🇺🇦 підроблений

🇵🇱 sfałszowany

🇯🇵 偽造された

🇫🇷 falsifié

🇪🇸 falsificado

🇹🇷 sahte

🇰🇷 조작된

🇸🇦 مزيف

🇨🇿 padělaný

🇸🇰 falošný

🇨🇳 伪造的

🇸🇮 ponarejen

🇮🇸 fölsuð

🇰🇿 жалған

🇬🇪 ყალბური

🇦🇿 saxta

🇲🇽 falsificado

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,367, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.