The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
Intrusion Countermeasure Electronics
(ICE) A contrived acronym for security
software, coined by Usenetter Tom Maddox and popularised by
William Gibson's cyberpunk SF novels. In Gibson's novels
ICE software responds to intrusion by attempting to literally
kill the intruder.
The term is not in serious use as of 2000 apart from the
commercial software product, BlackICE and a growing number
of others.
See also: icebreaker.
[Jargon File]
(2000-03-18)