Sybil attack

English

Etymology

Named from Sybil, a book about a woman diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder; suggested by Brian Zill at Microsoft Research.

Noun

Sybil attack (plural Sybil attacks)

1. (computer security) An attack that subverts a reputation system by forging a large number of identities in peer-to-peer networks. [from 2002]
   • 2022, Peter Augustine, Pethuru Raj, Sathyan Munirathinam, editors, Enterprise Digital Transformation: Technology, Tools, and Use Cases, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 180:

     If the signal rate from the claimed identity and the actual node differs, it can be considered as a Sybil attack. The successful prevention of Sybil attack increases the stability of the network.

Synonyms

• pseudospoofing