Sybil Attack

Sybil Attack: Fake Identity Manipulation

Sybil attacks involve creating multiple fake identities to gain disproportionate influence in networks that assume one person equals one vote. It’s like stuffing the ballot box with imaginary voters.

A Sybil attack is when an individual or entity creates multiple fake identities to gain unfair influence over a network, voting system, or resource allocation mechanism. These attacks exploit systems that rely on identity-based participation without proper verification.

How Sybil Attacks Work

Identity proliferation involves creating numerous fake accounts, wallets, or profiles to appear as many different participants in the system.

Influence amplification uses multiple identities to vote multiple times, claim multiple rewards, or gain disproportionate network power.

Detection evasion requires making fake identities appear legitimate through activity patterns, social connections, or other verification requirements.

Infographic showing a Sybil attack process: one attacker creates multiple fake identities to amplify influence and manipulate a decentralized system

Real-World Examples

  • Airdrop farming using multiple wallets to claim the same airdrop many times
  • Governance attacks creating multiple voting accounts to influence DAO decisions
  • Review manipulation using fake accounts to boost ratings or reputation scores

Why Beginners Should Care

System integrity depends on preventing Sybil attacks to maintain fair participation and democratic decision-making processes.

Detection mechanisms like proof of humanity, stake-weighting, or social verification help identify and prevent fake identities.

Participation fairness ensures that resources and influence are distributed based on legitimate participation rather than identity manipulation.

Related Terms: Anti-Sybil Mechanism, Proof of Humanity, Identity Verification, Governance Attack

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