The Cuckoo’s Egg

About “The Cuckoo’s Egg”

In the 1980s, computers were often isolated and not connected to networks. Using a computer was costly, and accounts were closely monitored. At Stoll's university, the accounting department noticed 75 cents of unused computing time with no associated user. They contacted Stoll, an astronomer who used the computer to control telescopes, to find the "phantom" user. Though not a computer expert, Stoll was involved in network administration due to chance. He recounts a 1985 story about investigating the mystery, a time when people were just beginning to understand the potential of networks—both their power and their hidden dangers. The events mirror issues seen today. The book is by Clifford Stoll.