Clifford Stoll

Maybe a little too concerned with narrating every single step in the process, even the many, many failed attempts that lead nowhere. This comes at the expense of excitement in the middle sections of the book.

But that's a minor complaint, overall this was a really cracking story. I'm really impressed by how well Stoll explained topics in computer science, networking, and security to readers who may very well have never been on a network before, and who may be hearing about hacking for the show more first time. He did a good job choosing what to simplify, and how, to let readers understand what was going on, while not overwhelming them or talking down to them. Even more impressive given that these intrusion detection techniques were things he invented, so he had no examples to draw from, and not many people around to give him advice.

This book was all the rage in the BBS scene in the 90s, and I didn't read it then. I'm glad I finally got around to it. Maybe the longest time between putting a book on my "to read" pile and then actually reading it: about 30 years. show less

I was ready to give THE CUCKOO'S EGG a mere four stars, because this is just not really the kind of book I normally read. But then I decided that wouldn't be fair, or an accurate reflection of how I ended up reading it. Which was nearly nonstop from beginning to end. The book is almost 400 pages long and I read it in less than two days. A jacket blurb says it "reads like a le Carre novel," and it does, no lie. It's that gripping and compelling a read. Except this is a spy thriller that show more involves no real physical danger to its hero-author, Cliff Stoll. But whodathunk that a narrative that plays out mostly behind a desk, plunking computer keys, could be this exciting? Well, it is; it keeps you turning and turning the pages, 'cause you just can't wait to find out what happens next.

Cliff Stoll seems an unlikely hero for an international spy thriller. The guy's an astronomer by training, but also a largely self-taught computer geek, a Berkley hippie sort who doesn't own a car and bikes everywhere. He enjoys cooking, sewing, and Quilting! But the thing is, the guy is cool, very cool. And he's funny too. In the course of the book you learn a little about his relationship with his partner, Martha, which is pretty laid back, unofficial and, well, cool. You also learn quite a lot about the early days of computers and the pre-internet age, when PC's were still something of a novelty and giant mainframe computers ruled. Well, they probably still do. And he also introduces you to the dangers of non-secure computers, how hackers can infiltrate and steal stuff, pretty important stuff in fact. You see how Cliff gradually eases himself from the hippy fringe into the heart of the military industrial complex, accidentally, as it were, just doing his job. Other players are folks from the FBI, CIA, NSA, and lots of DoD contractors too - the whole Beltway bunch and others scattered all over the USA.

And, most important of all, Cliff Stoll is a great storyteller, a natural writer. Or, if he's not, he's got me fooled. I know I've 'discovered' this book almost twenty-five years late, but man, is it ever a terrific read! Five-PLUS stars. Highly recommended. Yeah, VERY highly! show less

This was a fun read. As an IT professional, especially years down the road, it’s interesting to look back at the roots of many of the issues we deal with today. But mostly it’s just an interesting story of a guy using whatever meager tools he could scrape together to stop someone invading his territory. I can’t say whether a non–IT-type would enjoy it, but I suspect they might. His cheeky tone helps, though I’m sure it would have grown old if the book had been much longer.

There’s show more a great insight near the end, by the way, about the ways that computer hacking has damaged our individual autonomy—precisely the thing most hackers claim they’re trying to defend, in their righteously defensive moments. Stoll’s insights on this actually stand the test of time—they’re at least as true now as they were when he wrote this book. show less

Highly, but unfortunately unintentionally, amusing book. Part of it is that it was written in 1995 and I read it in 2014, but most of it is that Clifford Stoll - who can really write, witness Cuckoo's Egg - is curmudgeoning all over this newfangled network Internet stuff. The funniest parts are when he's pointing out (in 1995) that people are talking about watching movies over the Internet but the networks aren't anywhere near fast enough so the whole idea is ridiculous...and similar. A show more _lot_ of his complaints are that the network, or the systems, or the standards are not up to what the visionaries want it for...to the point that my response to most of his grumbles was "Not yet, you mean..." - which was interesting when the things he was grumbling about don't work yet in 2014. Hmmm. He complains about how complicated it is to send emails because everyone has their own system, and grumbles about how expensive it is to get anything worthwhile over the Net. And then goes off on how the Internet makes research way too easy and cheap and everyone's using these shortcuts rather than going to a Real! Library! with paper books and encyclopedias...contradicting himself, just a tad, but keeping to his curmudgeonly style (and echoing a lot of contemporary complaints about Wikipedia and the like). I was rather annoyed at the beginning of the book - wincing about Stoll missing the point a lot - but finally decided to be amused instead and finished it in a quick sweep. I'm glad I read it, it was quite amusing, I doubt very much I'll ever reread. show less