Spoofed: meaning, definitions and examples

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spoofed

 

[ spuːft ]

Verb
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.

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 origin

The term 'spoof' originally appeared in the late 19th century in the context of a card game called 'spoof' which involved bluffing. The idea of deception associated with the game carried over into other uses of the word. By the 1980s, 'spoof' began to be used in the realm of computer security, referencing the act of pretending to be someone else online, particularly in hacking and online scams. The word's evolution reflects broader concerns about trust and verification in communication, especially as digital interactions became more prominent. The prefix 'spoof-' has since been adopted in various contexts, illustrating the versatility of the concept of imitation and deception, ranging from humorous takes on media to serious threats in cybersecurity.

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.