What does smurfing mean?
Smurfing is a computing and online-gaming term with two established senses. In networking, it means launching a distributed denial-of-service attack by sending requests to a network with the victim's address falsely set as the source, so that the network's replies are redirected toward the victim. In multiplayer games, it means using a secondary account that appears new or inexperienced, usually so that a skilled player can gain an advantage. The expression comes from hacker vocabulary of the late twentieth century: a smurfing attack uses many spoofed source addresses, likened to numerous small cartoon helpers. The gaming sense developed from the established gaming term "smurf," meaning an alternate account with a lower rank or less history. Although the technical sense is specialized, smurfing is widely recognizable in discussions of network attacks and online competition, where it conveys both technical disruption and the strategic advantage sought through deceptive play.
The practice of launching a distributed denial-of-service attack through falsified source addresses, or of playing an online game through a secondary account that appears inexperienced.
"The report described the incident as sustained smurfing against the server."
To launch a distributed denial-of-service attack through falsified source addresses, or to play an online game through a secondary account that appears inexperienced.
"The attackers smurfed the game server, causing a sharp increase in traffic from participating networks."
The countable plural is rare; smurfing is usually used as an uncountable noun for the activity.
"Several smurfings were detected over the weekend."
A smurfing attack can turn ordinary network requests into an avalanche of replies aimed at one victim.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smurfing come from?
The computing term belongs to hacker vocabulary of the late twentieth century and was coined through comparison with a well-known family of small cartoon characters, because one attacker could make numerous requests appear to be acting independently. The gaming sense developed from established gaming slang in which a "smurf" is an alternate or inexperienced-looking account. The exact points at which these separate uses emerged are not firmly established.
Related word forms
How smurfing is actually used
The computing sense is specialist and normally occurs in discussions of network security. The gaming sense is informal and competitive culture, where it can carry a strongly critical or accusatory tone.
Easily confused with smurfing
Spoofing is the falsification of identifying information, whereas smurfing is a particular denial-of-service method that uses falsified source addresses to redirect traffic.