The Cuckoo’s Egg

Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage

Paperback, 399 pages

English language

Published Sept. 13, 2005 by Pocket.

ISBN:
9781416507789

View on OpenLibrary

5 stars (2 reviews)

In the days when the presence of a computer did NOT presume the presence of a network (they used to be freestanding units that could not easily communicate with another system), accounts to use the computer were expensive to maintain and heavily scrutinized by management. When the Accounting staff of Stoll's university employer discovered 75 cents' worth of time used with which no user was associated, they called him and demanded that he locate the "phantom" user. Stoll wasn't even a computing pro - he was an astronomer that used the computer to run programs that pointed telescopes properly. But he was a member of a club that exists today - that person elected to do network administration because he drew the short straw. Stoll tells the ensuing circa 1985 tale of analysis when people worldwide were only just discovering what networks could reveal... and hide. Rather like today.

12 editions

Great introduction to information security: spies, philosophy, and so much more.

5 stars

This book is an excellent introduction to hacking. It's great for beginners as it explains concepts on a fundamental level. It asks moral questions surrounding information security and who protects users. It is also a great starting point for people who need to see the picture of their learning or are struggling with being interested in learning about information security.

avatar for PAgent

rated it

5 stars

Subjects

  • Security - General
  • Political Science
  • Computer Crime
  • Intelligence Agencies
  • True Crime / Espionage
  • Literary Criticism
  • Politics/International Relations
  • Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations
  • Espionage
  • Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence