The PBS Nova episode about Stoll was the literal starting point of my discovery of the internet.<p>Because of the show, my next year in university I signed up for an elective CompSci course (I was an English Literature major) about threat assessment. Part of our course involved browsing the RISKS Forum newsgroup on the Sparc Stations at the University of Toronto Engineering Annex.<p>That episode was also the beginning of my fascination with telecom equipment, which I got the chance to use professionally for about a year in 1998-1999. There's a telephone museum about an hour from where I live that still has a working mechanical switch that you can dial on and see it working.
I watch a lot of videos at 1.5x. Older Cliff Stoll videos don't work at 1.5x. Cliff at 1.0x is already like other people at 1.5x.<p>I am so stoked to see Cliff at 1.0x in 2026 is still like other people at 1.5x. I am so glad to see Cliff still out there talking. "The Cuckoo's Egg"[0] was formative for me when I was a kid getting into computers. I am so happy that Cliff is out there making formative experiences for new hackers today.<p>Great talk, Cliff. (The "adjusted for inflation" quip about the budget made my day, too.)<p>[0] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo%27s_Egg_(book)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo%27s_Egg_(book)</a>
The book is brilliant.<p>Also worth mentioning is the rather dramatic PBS Nova episode from 1990, <i>The KGB, the Computer, and Me</i> -- starring, of course, Cliff Stoll. It's an entertaining take of the same topic.<p>I couldn't find a way to pay for a copy of it[], but this one on YouTube is pretty clean compared to the state of many other old NTSC things on our modern interweb: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW8YBrH4Q6o" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW8YBrH4Q6o</a><p>[]: Of course, a person is free to toss PBS a few dollars and/or buy an Acme Klein Bottle. :)
Already got my Klein bottle last year!<p>(I recommend everyone do it—the personal notes from Cliff are priceless.)
There was a British program as well. Sadly my copy got mangled by our VCR and I haven’t found it anywhere online.
(1990) The KGB, the Computer and Me <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gHNVNRQTJg" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gHNVNRQTJg</a>
The only paperback book I've ever sat down and read in one sitting. Started on a lazy Sunday morning and literally couldn't put it down. Highly recommended if you've not read it.
Thanks! Just ordered the book. Cliff Stoll is a treasure, I knew vaguely about this story, but not about the book. Looking forward to it.
The Cuckoo's Egg is still one of the best security books ever written. Glad he's still around.
If The Cuckoo's Egg is one of the best ones, I can skip the rest. It's a fun story, but not particularly well-told in my opinion. Cliff Stoll is a cool guy who does cool things. I guess I just don't appreciate him as an author.
I saw him speak at the Dayton Hamvention two times. Absolute fun and like no other.<p>When I was CSO at Relativity, I conducted security awareness training for all, and gave each one a copy of Cuckoo’s Egg.
I would not take the advice of somebody, if that persons basement is not full of klein-bottles. Everything else is just surface level ..
What a fascinating video. What a treat to hear him talk.<p>Much of my excitement has been dying off due to the commercialization of the hacker community, the culture war, and the constant legislative losses for privacy and effective ownership of goods you purchase because they've code in them you often cannot legally circumvent the "digital lock" on.<p>I'm curious what can be done to get it back. It seems the more I care, the more I get jaded due to the constant loss of freedom with tech.
I saw him live in a presentation he gave in Chicago, early 90s. He and his book are the cause of my switching from a very young PhD in thermodynamics career to going back to school for CS, then working in the latter field until retirement, years back. I also read his Silicon Snake Oil book, as soon as it came out, which he - himself - publicly claimed to have been in error, in parts, sometimes, but about which I now think - looking at X, TruthSocial, TikTok, etc. - that may, in fact, has been premonitory...
> Silicon Snake Oil book, as soon as it came out, which he - himself - publicly claimed to have been in error, in parts, sometimes, but about which I now think - looking at X, TruthSocial, TikTok, etc. - that may, in fact, has been premonitory...<p>It wasn’t really premonitory. More technophobic. It’s understandable in 1995 to have written it as few could envision what we have today.
It's been a few years - and I guess decades - since I read Cliff's book. One thing I recall is his journey from a Berkeley hippie to a man dealing with the military and men in suits and realizing that they are also good and necessary people. And also becoming a family man if I remember correctly.<p>It's a really important part of the story in my mind of Cliff growing up - sort of - as part of the experience.
One of my favorite books is "The Cuckoo's Egg". I read it at least yearly. Cliff Stoll has had an incredible impact on my interests. I'm happy to see him doing talks.
Thank you Cliff!<p>I had shivers most of the time during the talk, it was touching me from the inside and flipping me back like a latex glove. And while I knew your story I confess I listened to you for the first time.<p>It was the most amazing cyber space trip ever, feeling those copper lines and understanding you could interface with their content.<p>You simply represent what a hacker is, I'm getting older and loosing motivation and creativity, but after hearing you I swear I will never give that up and I promise I will keep the hardcore digging for those cents.<p>You are our father.
sorry guys just noticed but shouldn't the "Baby klein bottle" be called "Klein klein bottle"?<p>www.kleinbottle.com<p>is this an overlooked DE pun by Cliff? is that even possible?
Thanks @CliffStoll for the wonderful talk.
Stoll is a treasure. His enthusiasm for science and teaching never gets old.
Stoll is still the best storyteller in security. 40 years and this holds up perfectly.
the story really comes full circle for me now. i've read the book in the 90s and recently listened to hess's POV via a ccc talk (<a href="https://youtu.be/USDNMWZsR5o" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/USDNMWZsR5o</a> auto subbed/dubbed video here)<p>great nostalgia for when the internet was still amazing
A friend put me onto The Cuckoo's Egg, and that's where I first met Cliff. And honestly, half the protagonists in hacker fiction can't hold a candle to him.
Such a fun and enthusiastic guy. I’ve one of his klein bottles from like 20 years ago, think he still sells them.
You know, it just occured to me that technically we're all inside all of his Klein bottles. Or all Klein bottles, really.
I got one from him a couple of years ago. He even sent me photos while packing and shipping, and a handwritten note along with the bottle. An absolute stand-up guy.
I just bought one a few months ago after putting it off for years. He sent the most charming hand written note and a series of selfies proving that he personally packed it! A true gem.
I love that he’s still doing that - he did the same thing back then: selfies, lots of fun little notes on the packaging, stories about taking the package by bicycle to the nearest post office, and even assurances about his neighborhood’s political leanings (overwhelmingly anti-Bush).
This was great. Thanks for sharing.
His book was so good. Real agent stuff!
Fantastic book, great story, awesome memories. Thank you, Cliff.
Cliff Stoll is alive? Good news.
<a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48037336">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48037336</a><p>"Rumors of my death are slightly exaggerated | 1676 points by CliffStoll 3 months ago | 260 comments"
Yup. He hangs out here[0], as well.<p>[0] <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=CliffStoll">https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=CliffStoll</a>
Did he really break the screen on someone's phone during the talk? He seems dangerous to be around.
And probably exhausting. Good talk nonetheless.
why does it seems dangerous to you?<p>I actually immensely appreciated the way he is totally human, didn't even had to go beyond the stage behaviour because I believe that's the marvellous part!<p>It's a whole thing, the whole experience, the whole Him being himself, beauty and art mixed together in real cyberspace.
I bought this person's book too. I didn't know they were still alive. I really enjoyed reading The Cuckoo's Egg—it was such a fun read. They really have a way with words
Great