Tech Icons: Cliff Stoll

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Cliff Stoll retells the legendary story of how his investigation of a 75-cent accounting error led him to the exposure of a German spy ring.

[@pastelZeit]

world knows him as cliff stoll, internet knows him as crazy klein bottle guy

[@woosix7735]

From numberphile

[@Eisgod]

|~(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)~| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| |__,/´`\___| \__/´`\___/ \_/´`\__/ \____/ You just got lenny faced

[@maxwellsequation4887]

Wdym crazy?

[@melodiesfrommars7432]

@@woosix7735 yeah from Numberphile

[@daniel_77.]

​@@maxwellsequation4887 crazy, but in a good way

[@CockatooDude]

"It's a lot easier to apologize later than get permission in advance." I'll remember that one Cliff.

[@y788lhjk1]

I like to use that!

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

As a small child, my sister had a similar one: "If you don't ask for permission, it can't be denied"

[@ssbohio]

It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. Adm Grace Hopper, As quoted in the U.S. Navy's Chips Ahoymagazine (July 1986)

[@eriks1765]

I feel there's a rape joke somewhere here

[@jordanzish]

That's my modus operandi whenever I want to automate something at work.

[@ostimeg]

"Clifford stoll." Yeah what about him? "No, he stole my printer!"

[@FortoFight]

This guy has the excitement and energy that I, a 22 year-old, could only dream of.

[@mytube001]

More like the energy of a four-year-old! :D

[@maeysinaleko]

As a tired 22 y/o, I confirm

[@DevonAlexanderHess]

Cliff had more energy in these 12 minutes than I've had in my entire life.

[@R2Bl3nd]

Cliff Stoll strikes me as unashamedly human. He is living his inner child's best life, without a care for how people perceive him, seemingly. He exudes so much confidence, curiosity and wonder. I get energetic like him when I'm discussing a topic I'm really passionate about, but I tend to get shy about it and tone it down. I'm inspired to talk more about the things that get me passionate like this, and not be ashamed of how excited I get.

[@user-tw8gb9ei7q]

How is that going for you, 2 years later ? ^^

[@R2Bl3nd]

@@user-tw8gb9ei7q well it turned out a huge reason for my lack of motivation was because I was actually in an extremely unsupportive marriage situation, with my spouse being quite reactive and unkind. I've only just gotten out of that situation but things are already looking hugely improved for me and my future life prospects. So, a bit of a setback, but also a bit of a huge revelation of what was holding me back.

[@phototristan]

Ironic that this is on AT&T's channel given that they were caught providing their customer's private data to the NSA via a secret wiring closest in San Francisco.

[@angryvet296]

the real doc brown

[@Adecker100]

Would like but at 69...

[@GenericInternetter]

Random person: Could you spare me $0.75 for my bus ticket? Cliff:

[@Tyrfingr]

Never mess with a guy who has glued a track mouse to his arm rest, and keeps a soldering tool on the table.

[@williamdaugherty5406]

Show us your Klein bottles, Cliff ;)

[@hcandg]

Don't encourage him.

[@ryan00101101]

I got one from him (actuallyit was the beer pythagoras cup). It was boxed almost instantaneously with email of pictures of it in the box as soon as I hit buy.

[@OC35]

ryan00101101 Same here!

[@Ellemphriem]

Someone make a movie of this guy, he is amazing!

[@JCadd6]

+Ellemphriem Nil there is a documentary showing this story in better detail "The KGB, the computer and me". /watch?v=EcKxaq1FTac&ab check it out.

[@qezart]

I stumbled upon a weirdness that I'm exploring; Clifford Stoll.

[@jrodrig9212]

Anvilly nice thumbnail. had me cleaning my screen. :)

[@nathanielgonzalez2581]

Played by Jim Parsons

[@jerry3790]

I bet if the hacker ever met Cliff, he too would start smiling at his enthusiasm.

[@jeffbenson4839]

They did meet

[@tengkuizdihar]

9 fucking people DARES to dislike this guy.

[@BearsThatCare]

"It's a lot easier to apologize later than get permission in advance." Great words to live by. I don't know where I first heard this, but this sentiment has changed my life greatly.

[@ssbohio]

It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. - Adm Grace Hopper, As quoted in the U.S. Navy's Chips Ahoymagazine (July 1986)

[@eriks1765]

As long as you don't apply it to sex

[@josephboyette8034]

Cliff is the greatest guy. So genuinely passionate about the things he talks about.

[@sisifromthefuture]

Who's working the camera? What are you doing, guy?

[@charlee7818]

its like that camera guy is as excited and jumpy as cliff

[@Maethendias]

he is, watch his other videos

[@nate4511]

plot twist....cliff is also the camera guy

[@BearsThatCare]

XD XD

[@skydragon3857]

what's your problem i loved the camera work

[@worm628]

This guy's office looks exactly like I imagined it would after I watched one of his other videos

[@abdulkareemmuhammad.1]

He wears a tie and has a beard ... He is important 😂

[@codewithomer]

You can tell there is a Klein bottle or two off camera

[@volo870]

Teal desktop background? Cliff Stoll is a man of enduring taste.

[@BearsThatCare]

2:50 Jesus Christ that's close XD

[@billrussell3955]

I've always loved Cliff! His Klein bottles are great! I love mine! And his sense of humor is the best, so long as you have some knowledge of the subject! I come from the dark ages as well.

[@StankyPickle1]

I would pay to be able to work with this guy! I love his energy!

[@dat_chip]

Making up fake "military stuff" for that hacker to find must have been hilarious!

[@americancitizen748]

A lot of the Strategic Defense Initiative stuff was fake to begin with. A grand plot by Reagan to bankrupt the Soviet Union. It more or less worked.

[@fep_ptcp883]

More hilarious if KGB paid for that shit 😂

[@randyhavener1851]

I read about his story in 1987. Would absolutely love to spend an afternoon with him!! Thanks Cliff!

[@johntorrico]

A rambling wreck from Buffalo Tech and a heckuvan engineer aka Hutchinson Central Technical High School in Buffalo, New York. There was never a doubt that you were brilliant. Regards from your old classmate. . . Class of 1968.

[@zebfross]

If you want more details, you can read his book, Cuckoo's Egg. Incredible story from an incredible guy; definitely worth the read.

[@bobbywilkinson5697]

I love Klien Bottle Guy

[@JohnDekka]

Cliff runs Win98 xD

[@cgsweat]

"He wears a tie AND has a beard... he's important!" - Cliff Stoll

[@teh_jibbler]

"It's out of problems that you can't understand that you make progress." Nice.

[@EvilDaveCanada]

I was at his lecture in Winnipeg & have both a autographed copy of his book in hardcopy as well as a copy of his internet paper on the subject back in the early 90's when I was known as "Evil Dave, the Devilled Ham(Ham Radio). VE4DSL says hi.

[@freelancergin]

this is the greatest story I've ever heard

[@ArnoldsKtm]

The hell is that cameraman doing.

[@imperialguardsman135]

what the fuck this is like learning that the wacky grandpa at the antique store you chat with on weekends works for the MI6 so cool

[@rafsolo]

I saw an old interview of him a while ago. He has much more energy now as an old man than he did as a young man. I aspire to be like that

[@michaelerbaturakis2435]

His energy and love of his field Is amazing

[@revodrvr]

I love watching this guy talk. So much passion

[@CTmoog]

Wow, that's a great story. This guy is pretty cool.

[@gregorymccoy6797]

Read his booking the early 90s. I love this guy. He is joy, curiosity, and intelligence.

[@timothyliu2588]

It's all in his novel Cuckoo's egg. A heck of a read, especially for tech buffs.

[@josephaether377]

i wondered if he was still this energetic in older age... yup

[@fuchoo2468]

I read his book soon after it was 1st published. Then had the pleasure of meeting him in Boston when I was at Harvard. He signed my book too ...

[@edvardm4348]

Why I love this guy

[@jonguardia]

This man's pure inspiration

[@jordanzish]

This man is a treasure.

[@690_5]

WHOA! KLEIN BOTTLE GUY!

[@muralibhat8776]

"after 5 or 6 you run out of friends" XD everything ok cliff?

[@fl0atpvnk]

This man is a gem. His enthusiasm for everything is admirable, and I agree with another commenter, it does appear like he injects caffiene into his brain 😆 he's hilarious too!

[@volking6338]

11:02 jeez that jumpscare startled me

[@f.d.6667]

This is totally awesome... and some great advice on doing science!

[@braddahg]

Thank you Cliff. I now am very interested in cyber security. I love how zany he is.

[@James_Knott]

I read his book "The Cuckoo's Egg" many years ago. I was working for a major telecom and had been a computer tech. We had several computers, including 7 VAX 11/780s connected with DECNet. My wife read the book after I did and she, a very non technical person, could relate to some of the things Cliff described in it, as I had shown her some things in my office. Back in those days, before "The Internet", there were a variety of networks and you needed gateways to get from one to another. That was one of the key points in creating the Internet, so that you could connect a DEC network to an IBM network, to a UNIX network, etc. That book also had several humourous situations in it too. An excellent read!

[@manictiger]

The camera work is more erratic than Cliff. Come on, keep it steady and don't use the zoom. Let Cliff do all the moving.

[@Tyrfingr]

Fighting to keep him in frame it looks like

[@HolowatyVlogs]

@@Tyrfingr There are moments where Cliff is completely still and the cameraman had a seizure.

[@athul_c1375]

thank you doc for the wise words

[@amitv9128]

"It's out of problems that you can't understand, that you make progress."

[@mvvo7366]

i enjoyed every second

[@americancitizen748]

Read his book many years ago and loved it. But he is hard to watch in person.

[@kbmrolltide123]

Modernday Albert Einstein! wow cool guy. I love listening to his anecdotes

[@cosmicvoidtree]

It’s funny to see that Cliff had the energy of a child who got into Costco’s sugar storage

[@hannesc.9823]

I wanna meet him sooo badly

[@inkoftheworld]

The blurry close-ups and general camera work really match the way he talks, lol.

[@CesarAvila007]

Cliff is the best guy ever

[@MarvinStoker]

Big love

[@Cernoise]

Makes me want to write a parody of 'Things that make you go hmmm' about this and science in general.

[@FlyingAce1016]

WHEN ARE THEY MAKING A MOVIE ABOUT THIS

[@insertaverygenericnamehere]

They did. Search for "The KGB, the Computer, and Me"

[@strangersound]

This dude. :)

[@aspermwhalespontaneouslyca8938]

I shouldnt be watching this at 4 oclock in the morning

[@XDvard]

Music?

[@JPBennett]

I wonder if has depressive episodes too, or is just always excited about life. Either way, super cool guy.

[@SuperRedSpaceCouch]

As someone whose currently peaking: I get it.

[@KazModah]

Doc Brown fights: Cliff Stoll vs Martyn Poliakoff

[@stevensong6909]

lol that zoom in.

[@n0madfernan257]

i like docs enthusiasm. and damn it camera guy, dont just zoom and put it on a steady tripod.

[@foxrumor]

Did this guy legit invent the honeypot?

[@yacked]

read his book called The Cuckoo's Egg it's very nice

[@Apollexis]

Yeah he looks alot like him haha Super awesome

[@luicecifer]

9:24 The man almost made it to "Bundeskriminalamt" (Federal criminal police office) xD Great video!

[@strichacht200d74]

The hacker Cliff is talking about here, was most likely Karl Koch, a german Hacker in the 80s, there's also a movie about him titled "23".

[@MUJAHID56787]

realist nigga

[@chefme1801]

How stupid you sound

[@BearsThatCare]

+Luciano Da Honorable They got em fucked up if they think this science shit isn't lit.

[@beatboxlanguage]

have you watched buddys ted talk? phenomenal. my mans cliff is an actual genius real talk

[@MUJAHID56787]

+Nick Bernstein haven't watched old dudes ted talks but iv watched a fair share of videos where he sporadically and excitingly explains topology and this obsession with Klein bottles

[@xhulleywoodx]

I have never understood why people intentionally try to sound stupid and uneducated. It is a huge problem in our society and you all contribute. Chef Me you get it.

[@dannygullerud8053]

Anyone know the music at 10:19?

[@MrChet407]

Jesus Christ what a genius

[@wrnrt]

Did you notice the trackball tied to the chair? 3:40

[@zirconium2014]

yo what the fuck AHA this man is a genius

[@Rashaddropemoff]

Nah he tweakin tweakin lollllll

[@twanlange2827]

What’s up with the camerawork?

[@iFix.]

There must be a way to put a klein bottle in that story XD anyone else here from numberphile?

[@nomoregoodlife1255]

♥

[@matteogolin5231]

I can just imagine this guy's call to the FBI...

[@PetrGladkikh]

11:20 - true also for engineering. Except in science it is encouraged, and in engineering you should grow thick skin talking with managers.

[@leonidaspetsakos9690]

Is he...is he alright?

[@PetrGladkikh]

The guy is very animate and constantly moving. And operator decides to shake the camera itself _even more_ what did he think - it spoiled the interview that would be fun to watch otherwise.

[@IIJOOKER]

He is nuts

[@russianwater1655]

What tf is up with the camera man??? Hes moving that thing around like hes drunk!!!

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

His book Silicon Snake Oil is a fascinating read, because he was both spectacularly wrong ("little money will be made using the internet") and spectacularly right, ("people will get increasingly frustrated by the virtual world, as the real world is much more interesting.") Also was spot on accurate predicting the 401k bug, as in it was way overblown.

[@raleighsmalls4653]

Odd that he didn't mention what ultimately happened to the hacker....

[@tehjamerz]

Such an intoxicating character

[@jasonmurawski5877]

What i want to know is how the hell did cliff sleep next to like 30 teletypes

[@topspark7688]

Watch his movie. This geezer is fuckin cool.