The Cuckoo's Egg

[LDB]

If you haven't read The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll you should give it a look.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by LDB

If you haven't read The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll you should give it a look.

Can you please explain why we should give this book a look?

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by LDB

If you haven't read The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll you should give it a look.

Give me your reason, and then I'll make a decision on whether to "give it a look".

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you please explain why we should give this book a look?

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Give me your reason, and then I'll make a decision on whether to "give it a look".

I have no idea whether either of you should read it, but it is a memoir of an astronomer roped into system administration dealing with a cracker trying to break into his system in the time shortly after the internet was opened to the public. It's sort of a spy thriller where all the action is online. In addition to having to outwit the cracker, he has to deal with clueless bosses and government officials. IMO it is interesting and well written.

By the way, the cracker had broken into military and industrial computers all over the world, but Stoll was the one who tracked him down.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Stoll

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Hess

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo%27s_Egg

[pwalker8]

I read it long ago in paper. I think the original event was back in 1989. Think War Games or Sneakers, but in real life. I enjoyed the book a lot, but of course I'm a programmer who had to dabble in computer security during that time period because someone had to do the job and I got nominated. The book was a best seller, so it wasn't just computer geeks who liked it.

[Pulpmeister]

I read it years ago too. I think I still have the book one the shelves somewhere.

Think techno detective story, as Stoll eventually triggers an international investigation.

Well written, fascinating piece of history.

[pdurrant]

I too read it many years ago. Well written (IMO) and an interesting insight into early espionage hacking.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuckoos-Egg.../dp/1416507787

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be available as an ebook!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I too read it many years ago. Well written (IMO) and an interesting insight into early espionage hacking.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuckoos-Egg.../dp/1416507787

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be available as an ebook!

It is available as an eBook in the US. It's not available as an eBook in the UK.

[LDB]

Others have done a fine job but I'll respond since I was asked. I guess I should have said a bit more but I thought Amazon does a great job in their blurb and folks would just "give it a look". My recollection is there was a 50 cents discrepancy in the billing in the computer lab. That caused Cliff Stoll to investigate and eventually led to a global hunt for hackers and spies. It is a very engaging "what happens next?" work.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by LDB

Others have done a fine job but I'll respond since I was asked. I guess I should have said a bit more but I thought Amazon does a great job in their blurb and folks would just "give it a look". My recollection is there was a 50 cents discrepancy in the billing in the computer lab. That caused Cliff Stoll to investigate and eventually led to a global hunt for hackers and spies. It is a very engaging "what happens next?" work.

The reason I asked is because a book can have a description that sounds good but the book is not really all that good. Given what you and others have said, I will give it a go. Thanks.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by LDB

My recollection is there was a 50 cents discrepancy in the billing in the computer lab.

Nah, you're MILES off. My copy says 75 cents.

[LDB]

Must have been inflation. It's 50 cents in my memory from a couple decades ago when I read it. Inflation hit my copy too as it's now 75 cents in it too.

[Dazrin]

Interesting, I've seen several things with Cliff Stoll in them, mostly Numberphile videos, he's definitely an interesting and entertaining character. I'll need to see if I can get this.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by LDB

My recollection is there was a 50 cents discrepancy in the billing in the computer lab. That caused Cliff Stoll to investigate and eventually led to a global hunt for hackers and spies.

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Nah, you're MILES off. My copy says 75 cents.

A recounting discrepancy... Something's afoot!

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It is available as an eBook in the US. It's not available as an eBook in the UK.

Yep, I just bought it as an ebook. I have the paper book in a box somewhere, I think, but ebook is so much more accessible for me. It's at $8, so I imagine there will be some howls of outrage.