Wardrivers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who search for and map wireless networks by moving through areas with a mobile device equipped to detect Wi-Fi signals ; people engaged in a hobby or practice of locating accessible wireless internet spots by detecting and recording their presence and security status ; participants in the activity of scanning public and private spaces using specialized equipment to identify wireless networks for research, security testing, or exploratory purposes
2. People who drive around with equipment to find and identify Wi-Fi networks, often noting their locations and vulnerabilities ; users of mobile technology on the move who locate wireless internet connections to gather information or test access ; enthusiasts or professionals conducting mobile surveys of wireless networks to assess their range, security, and availability
3. Those who actively search for wireless local area networks (WLANs) by traveling in vehicles with detection hardware or software ; persons engaged in the detection and cataloging of nearby Wi-Fi hotspots through movement and technological tools ; operators of a mobile scanning activity aimed at discovering wireless network signals for mapping or analysis

Etymology: Wardriving takes its name from wartime slang. "Wardialing," the practice of dialing phone numbers in bulk to find modems, came first, and "wardrive" was coined by analogy with it, combining "war" with "drive" for a person driving through streets to pick up wireless networks. The reference to war is a deliberate echo of that older term rather than a reference to military activity. The "-er" ending is the ordinary English suffix that turns a verb into a noun for someone who performs the action, so a wardriver is simply one who wardrives. The plural "wardrivers" is just that noun in its plural form.

Synonyms: wifi hunters, network scanners, wifi explorers, wireless searchers, network seekers

Antonyms: network defenders, security experts, network protectors