The Cuckoo's Egg

LDB · 10-05-2020, 02:14 PM

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

JSWolf · 10-05-2020, 02:32 PM

Quote:

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 · 10-05-2020, 02:37 PM

Quote:

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 · 10-05-2020, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

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

Quote:

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 · 10-06-2020, 05:07 AM

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 · 10-06-2020, 05:20 AM

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 · 10-06-2020, 05:33 AM

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 · 10-06-2020, 07:17 AM

Quote:

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 · 10-06-2020, 10:22 AM

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 · 10-06-2020, 03:20 PM

Quote:

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 · 10-06-2020, 06:32 PM

Quote:

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 · 10-06-2020, 07:08 PM

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 · 10-06-2020, 09:36 PM

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 · 10-07-2020, 12:21 PM

Quote:

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

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

A recounting discrepancy... Something's afoot!

pwalker8 · 10-07-2020, 01:23 PM

Quote:

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.

10-05-2020, 02:14 PM	#1
LDB Baker Street Irregular Posts: 460 Karma: 9920853 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston suburb Device: Oasis 3, PaperWhite 5, Aura One, Glowlight Plus, Scribe, Sage	The Cuckoo's Egg If you haven't read The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll you should give it a look.

10-06-2020, 07:08 PM	#12
LDB Baker Street Irregular Posts: 460 Karma: 9920853 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston suburb Device: Oasis 3, PaperWhite 5, Aura One, Glowlight Plus, Scribe, Sage	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. Last edited by LDB; 10-06-2020 at 07:15 PM.

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10-06-2020, 05:07 AM	#5
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	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.

10-06-2020, 05:20 AM	#6
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,879 Karma: 29145056 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	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.

10-06-2020, 05:33 AM	#7
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,433 Karma: 318076944 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	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!

10-06-2020, 10:22 AM	#9
LDB Baker Street Irregular Posts: 460 Karma: 9920853 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston suburb Device: Oasis 3, PaperWhite 5, Aura One, Glowlight Plus, Scribe, Sage	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.

10-06-2020, 09:36 PM	#13
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,735 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	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.