1. a person who hacks into telephone systems or networks, typically to make unauthorized calls or access restricted information
Usage: slang; informal; computing/telecommunications

1. to hack into or manipulate telephone systems or networks without authorization
Usage: slang; informal; computing/telecommunications

Examples

• The phreak was caught after illegally accessing the phone company's database.
• In the 1980s, some phreaks would exploit telephone systems to make free long-distance calls.
• He decided to phreak the network to test its security vulnerabilities.
• The group of phreaks shared techniques for bypassing telephone security measures.
• Law enforcement arrested several phreaks who had been manipulating the telecommunications system.
• She learned to phreak by studying old hacking forums and documentation.