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Glite Dictionary
🧑‍🔵 Cartoon character 💸 Money launderer 🖥️ Network attack 🎮 Skilled gamer
Smurf

Smurf

9.9
A network attack that sends many fake messages to overload a server
  • noun
  • /smɜrf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ataque Smurf
  • Security experts recommend filtering ICMP traffic to prevent a Smurf from disrupting operations.

Examples

  • The hackers launched a Smurf attack on the server.

  • After the Smurf attack, the IT team implemented new firewall rules to protect the network.

  • The company's servers were brought down by a Smurf that generated massive network traffic.

  • Did you hear about the recent Smurf attacks?

  • In a smurf attack, the attacker sends a flood of ICMP packets to overwhelm the target server.

  • Companies must implement security measures to guard against smurf attacks that can disrupt their services.

  • During the denial of service incident, experts identified it as a smurf attack due to the nature of the traffic patterns.

Synonyms

cyberattack
vsSmurf
  • Specialized
10 4.4

An attack on computer systems that damages them or steals information

is a narrower traffic overwhelming attack using spoofed ICMP packets to deny service
DoS
vsSmurf
  • Texting
7.7

An attack that makes a website stop working by sending too much traffic

is a narrow attack using spoofed ICMP packets to cause service denial

Surface Forms

Smurf singular
Smurfs plural

Etymology

Smurf (network attack) takes its name from a program that was named after the cartoon Smurfs, because the attack works by sending many small reply messages to flood a target. So think of lots of little 'Smurfs' sending traffic at once, which is why a Smurf attack overwhelms a server.