Confidently incorrect.
Good work, ol’ chap.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet#Owned_and_pwned
>The term was created accidentally by the misspelling of "own" in video game design due to the keyboard proximity of the "O" and "P" keys. It implies domination or humiliation of a rival,[21]
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/buzzword/entries/pwne...').
>There are various theories about the etymology of pwned. >One of the more popular accounts is that it originated in the online computer game World of Warcraft, where a map designer misspelt owned (where own was intended to be used in the sense of 'conquer' or 'dominate').
What was that about being "confidently incorrect" again?
The term "pwn(ed)" was popular before any of these games existed. Here's a much more thorough history lesson, linked from HIBP itself: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/pwned-meaning-definition-orig...
"At this point, pwn allegedly meant to demote or dethrone someone, but the slang was quickly picked up by early computer-users that exchanged messages on FidoNet, a system created in the 1980s for exchanging emails or text on digital bulletin boards. This is where pwn slowly transformed into the insult we know today."
I'm not backing any particular account (in fact the two links I provided disagree with each other), my point was just that it seems silly to be so overly confident on ANY account. Unless, again, there's something special about HIBP in this regard? I'm definitely no internet historian so you'll have to fill me in a little further. :)
I'd say the fact that the author of the text obviously doesn't know the difference between World of Warcraft (an MMO) and the Warcraft series (a set of RTS games) casts some doubt on this "popular account". Especially since the games are some ten years apart.