The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage.  Cliff Stoll.  New York.  Doubleday 1989

Book Review by Joel
Well, Jane picked the book, The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage a few weeks ago: or was it months? I found the book interesting. It has only been 12 or 13 years since it was published, and today it is even more topical than it was then. Especially since everyone and their iguana gets viral infections on their computers all the time. Now it is Windows and mail programs. It is still just as insidious. I must say I didn't believe Cliff when he described himself "growing up" and becoming an adult as he takes responsibility for the free world of computing, as he hobnobs with "shadow government agencies" that he said he'd never do. I get the feeling he was a closet double-naught spy and just needed the prodding of the East Germans to get him out. I thought it just didn't come across well. I thought he also stretched the story on and on to build the tension. That was boring to me. Having said that, I will digress and say I liked the overall story. The subject and characters were interesting. The computing for me was all over my head. I didn't understand any of it, but I am sure it was explained in layman's terms. I went to a Web site for Cliff Stoll, http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~stoll/ , and it was full of cool stuff. I think the guy is super smart, which brings me to the end of this review, because that's all I can think of to say.

Joel.

The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage.  Cliff Stoll.  New York.  Doubleday 1989

Book Review by Jane
I enjoyed The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage. I think Cliff Stoll wrote a page-turning account of his encounter with spies and very dirty scoundrels. I liked how in the beginning, how it kept seeming like a very minor problem and gradually appeared as the disaster it actually was. I think Cliff Stoll was lucky to be in a position where he could log and track the hackers. It was obvious that the government agencies were not in a position to track them; when they found out about the security breaches, they just had to plug up the holes. A business would have to do that, too. The government agencies sure let him go along without offering much help, though. I suppose because he was an astronomer at Berkeley, Cliff Stoll's becoming an expert in security issues would be kind of a stretch--and I suppose that was probably the point he was trying to make. Still, I agree with Joel on the point that Cliff Stoll really probably was more inclined to "policing" before he came into the hacker. He at least did a great job of it. He probably made a big jump in social responsibility, though. I couldn't understand his "friend" putting down his work with finding the hacker, claiming the computers were for everyone anyway. But at least his girlfriend (wife now) was very supportive. I agree with Joel, Cliff Stoll does seem to be very smart and dynamic. Apparently, he has another book out. We will have to check into it!

Jane.