Clifford Stoll Books
Clifford Stoll is an American astronomer, author, and teacher known for his work in computer security and his engaging science communication. He earned a Ph.
Known for: The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage
Books by Clifford Stoll
The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage
The Cuckoo’s Egg is a nonfiction account by astronomer and systems administrator Clifford Stoll, who uncovered one of the first documented cases of computer espionage. The book recounts how Stoll discovered a 75-cent accounting error at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in 1986, which led him to track a hacker infiltrating U.S. computer networks and selling information to the KGB. The narrative combines technical investigation, Cold War intrigue, and the early culture of the Internet, offering a vivid look at the dawn of cybersecurity.
Read SummaryKey Insights from Clifford Stoll
The Spark: Seventy-five Cents and a Suspicion
It began almost absurdly. Our laboratory computing center billed users for system time, and one day, while reviewing the usage logs, I noticed an unexplained discrepancy—75 cents missing from the accounts. No one else cared. After all, seventy-five cents wouldn’t even buy a cup of coffee. But I care...
From The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage
The Chase Across the Network
Once I set up my monitoring tools, the pattern became clear—the hacker was bouncing from system to system, exploiting weak passwords and security loopholes across multiple institutions. The Internet, or more precisely the ARPANET, was a small world then, mostly universities and research agencies tie...
From The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage
About Clifford Stoll
Clifford Stoll is an American astronomer, author, and teacher known for his work in computer security and his engaging science communication. He earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona and worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he uncovered a major espionage case t...
Read more
Clifford Stoll is an American astronomer, author, and teacher known for his work in computer security and his engaging science communication. He earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona and worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he uncovered a major espionage case t...
Clifford Stoll is an American astronomer, author, and teacher known for his work in computer security and his engaging science communication. He earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona and worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he uncovered a major espionage case that inspired The Cuckoo’s Egg. Stoll has since written several books and is recognized for his advocacy of hands-on learning and skepticism toward digital overreliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifford Stoll is an American astronomer, author, and teacher known for his work in computer security and his engaging science communication. He earned a Ph.
Read Clifford Stoll's books in 15 minutes
Get AI-powered summaries with key insights from 1 book by Clifford Stoll.