war-dialing

noun

The practice of having a computer dial large numbers of telephone numbers in search of devices that can be exploited, such as fax machines or modems.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of war-dial
nounwar-dialing (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe practice of having a computer dial large numbers of telephone numbers in search of devices that can be exploited, such as fax machines or modems.
  2. uncountableA similar practice in other address spaces, such as IP addresses.

Origin

See war-dial § Etymology.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

war-dialing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/war-dialing

MLA

“war-dialing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/war-dialing. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “war-dialing,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/war-dialing.

Source: war-dialing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.