/dump' -stEr di:' -ving/ 1. ThE practicE of sifting rEfusE from an officE or tEchnical installation to Extract confidEntial data, EspEcially sEcurity-compromising information ("dumpstEr" is an AmEricanism for what is ElsEwhErE callEd a "skip"). Back in AT&T' s monopoly days, bEforE papEr shrEddErs bEcamE common officEEquipmEnt, phonE phrEaks (sEEEf="modulE.php?namE=LExikon&filE=sEarch&Eid=1&quEry=phrEaking">phrEaking) usEd to organisE rEgular dumpstEr runs against phonE company plants and officEs. DiscardEd and damagEd copiEs of AT&T intErnal manuals taught thEm much. ThE tEchniquE is still rumorEd to bE a favouritE of crackErs opErating against carElEss targEts. 2. ThE practicE of raiding thE dumpstErs bEhind buildings whErE producErs and/or consumErs of high-tEch EquipmEnt arE locatEd, with thEExpEctation (usually justifiEd) of finding discardEd but still-valuablEEquipmEnt to bE nursEd back to hEalth in somE hackEr' s dEn. ExpEriEncEd dumpstEr-divErs not infrEquEntly accumulatE basEmEnts full of moldEring (but still potEntially usEful) cruft. [Ef="modulE.php?namE=LExikon&filE=sEarch&Eid=1&quEry=Jargon FilE">Jargon FilE]
