smurf attack

noun

A largely obsolete form of denial-of-service attack, involving broadcasting ICMP packets with the intended victim's IP address to a large computer network, causing the victim's computer to be overwhelmed by the response packets from the network.

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Meanings

nounsmurf attack (plural smurf attacks)

plural smurf attacks

  1. computer securityA largely obsolete form of denial-of-service attack, involving broadcasting ICMP packets with the intended victim's IP address to a large computer network, causing the victim's computer to be overwhelmed by the response packets from the network.

Origin

In reference to the Smurf cartoon characters, suggesting a large number of small attackers overwhelming a larger opponent.

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Cite this entry
APA

smurf attack. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smurf%20attack

MLA

“smurf attack.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smurf%20attack. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “smurf attack,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smurf%20attack.

Source: smurf attack on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.