from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
snark
n.
[Lewis Carroll, via the Michigan Terminal System]
1. A system failure. When a user's process bombed, the operator would
get the message "Help, Help, Snark in MTS!"
2. More generally, any kind of unexplained or threatening event on a
computer (especially if it might be a boojum). Often used to refer to
an event or a log file entry that might indicate an attempted security
violation.
3. UUCP name of snark.thyrsus.com, home site of the Jargon File
versions from 2.*.* on (i.e., this lexicon).
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
snark
[Lewis Carroll, via the Michigan Terminal System] 1. A system
failure. When a user's process bombed, the operator would get
the message "Help, Help, Snark in MTS!"
2. More generally, any kind of unexplained or threatening
event on a computer (especially if it might be a boojum).
Often used to refer to an event or a log file entry that might
indicate an attempted security violation. See {snivitz}.
3. UUCP name of snark.thyrsus.com, home site of the Hacker
{Jargon File} versions 2.*.*.
[{Jargon File}]