The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage Paperback – January 1, 2005

Clifford Stoll's "The Cuckoo's Egg" isn't just a cybersecurity thriller; it's a captivating journey into the dawn of the internet, a time of dial-up connections and nascent networks. Stoll, a meticulous astronomer, stumbled upon a minor accounting discrepancy that led him down a rabbit hole of international intrigue.What follows is a thrilling cat-and-mouse game as Stoll, armed with little more than his wits and a deep understanding of Unix systems, tracks a sophisticated hacker across continents. The book masterfully blends technical details with human drama, offering a glimpse into the anxieties and excitement of a rapidly evolving technological landscape.Stoll's writing is both accessible and insightful. He explains complex technical concepts with clarity, making them understandable even for non-technical readers. But more than just a technical manual, "The Cuckoo's Egg" is a poignant reflection on the changing nature of privacy, the power of information, and the interconnectedness of our world.This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of computing, cybersecurity, or simply a good old-fashioned mystery. It's a thrilling, insightful, and thought-provoking read that has stayed with me long after I turned the final page.I haven't been this captivated by a book in years. Stoll's masterful storytelling and the profound implications of his discoveries make "The Cuckoo's Egg" a truly unforgettable reading experience.

Wonderful true life mystery. Gripping if you don’t mind being taught a little astrophysics and a lot of computing. For me, I can relate to everything from astrophysics to aikido to UNIX. Loved reading it.

I skimmed this way back when it came out. Several instructors at recent security classes have brought it up, and so I bought a paperback copy to read. It is fairly dated - kind of fun to read the references and remember what it was like before everybody had a cell phone, and a laptop and a tablet. When was the last time you saw a payphone on the street? The story of how Cliff ferreted out the intruder is, of course, the main thing - but his daily life and his culture (academia) is intertwined with the story and makes it an even better read. The glimpses into the maddeningly bureaucratic nature of government agencies is also worthwhile. A surprising amount of the technical material is still relevant today: and not just because unix/linux is still alive and kicking. The basic concepts of security and good practices that many of the sysadmins were not doing are the SAME EXACT things that lazy sysadmins are STILL not doing - such is life. A good read.

I read this book when it was first published but lost my copy somewhere along the way. I recently picked up another copy to see if it would stand the test of time. I wondered if the technological developments of the past couple decades would turn this book into a dull history lesson or if it would still capture my attention. I found it every bit as fascinating and probably more so now that I'm older and have a different perspective.At the time the events depicted in this book were taking place, I was starting my career as an IT professional. My first assignment involved supporting a Bellcore (Bell Labs) developed application running on AT&T Unix (sorry Cliff, I'm a "heathen" though I appreciate BSD too!). I got to experience working with DEC PDP-11/70s, 11/34s, VAX 8650s, Decwriters, and RP06/RP8x DASD. Some of that stuff was considered dated at the time and by today's standards they are prehistoric. So, I can relate to Cliff's experience, except for the part of having to track down an international spy, LOL. I missed out on that, thank goodness!I look at this book differently now than I did in 1989. Even if the reader doesn't care about the origins of the Internet or the finer points of Unix system administration and telecommunications, the depiction of the government's response to the situation is interesting and informative. Of note is the revelation that a particular agency was aware of existing security vulnerabilities but did nothing to address them because they were likely exploiting the vulnerabilities themselves.This time around, I had more interest in the personal drama surrounding the incident. I could more easily identify with, and laugh at, some of the crazy personalities involved. And, I could empathize with Cliff over the disruption it was causing in his personal life. I also appreciate Cliff's commentary on the philosophy and ethics of computing and how a few bad apples can spoil it for everyone. These concepts are still relevant today despite advancements in technology. After all, the weakest link in the system is the same today as it was back then.I would recommend this book to anyone getting started in Information Technology and to old school Unix guys and gals who have ever fixed a paper jam on a Decwriter.