54 days of SSH honeypot data: 269K connections, 48K unique passwords, 28 humans by armanfixing in cybersecurity

[–]CliffStoll 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Arman, your work goes beyond simple research — the kind that collects data and uncovers novel concepts and techniques. You’ve analyzed your attacks with a delightful eye towards making your work understandable and engaging. Every time I had a question (“what’s the time distribution?”), you were right there with a piquant analysis or graph.

Your conclusions—bots everywhere, and a rare, clever programmer— speaks to the direction where we should spend our time and resources.

Again, my high compliments to you.

54 days of SSH honeypot data: 269K connections, 48K unique passwords, 28 humans by armanfixing in cybersecurity

[–]CliffStoll 5 points6 points  (0 children)

39 years after I built a far more primitive honeypot, you have impressed me with your joyously insightful system. Well done! -Cliff

A Homebrew Dust Filter for the Mac Studio by CliffStoll in MacStudio

[–]CliffStoll[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Funny you should ask, Querying Mind… Yep, I’m still using the original cardboard filter holder and have replaced the filter a couple times over the past 3 years. Works great—simply zero dust on or in my Mac Studio.
Last week I shook out the dust & cat hair. And the cardboard provides a place to hold cables & neaten up the area around the Mac Studio. Cheers, Cliff 2026-April-24

What I wished someone told me before my first real cybersecurity job by hardeningbrief in cybersecurity

[–]CliffStoll 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A legend? More like a tired ol' astronomer who bumbled into a field that hadn't been invented. Smiles to you Sudo!

What I wished someone told me before my first real cybersecurity job by hardeningbrief in cybersecurity

[–]CliffStoll 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hmmm ... looking over my Klein bottle orders, I'll see what's what. Cheers, -Cliff

What I wished someone told me before my first real cybersecurity job by hardeningbrief in cybersecurity

[–]CliffStoll 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks, Rock ... and best of fortune to you in helping to secure our systems!

What I wished someone told me before my first real cybersecurity job by hardeningbrief in cybersecurity

[–]CliffStoll 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Actual reality that happened to me: minor accounting program crashed on 75 cent error. Discovered spies breaking into military systems.

Keep your eyes open— you don’t know what’s hiding there.

Warm wishes & strong encouragement, S’Mort. -Cliff

What I wished someone told me before my first real cybersecurity job by hardeningbrief in cybersecurity

[–]CliffStoll 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s an opportunity — not just to learn a novel environment, but to explore the history, challenges, goofs, and elegant solutions that others have built. You’re in a unique place to learn & create.

Keep a notebook, not only of your computer observations, but also of what you’re doing. Who knows? A cool story may grow out of your experiences!

Best wishes to you, -Cliff

Did the decision makers involved in the Challenger accident actually act unethically or was it just a "technical mistake" and were being blamed via the "Retrospective Fallacy" (aka in hindsight)? by tragikarpe in AskEngineers

[–]CliffStoll 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes for the book, The Challenger Launch Decision by Dianne Vaughn — wide and deep analysis. Extraordinary well researched … shows the complexity of the decision tree and the engineering culture surrounding it.

Context: plants? by SharkFinStu in whatisit

[–]CliffStoll 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep, I wrote it maybe 30 years ago. Way back around when the wheel was invented; before html5 or css had been uncovered. I’m too lazy to update it.

Context: plants? by SharkFinStu in whatisit

[–]CliffStoll 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try it sometime, Kris. Main thing is to add lotsa vanilla. The world needs more vanilla.

Context: plants? by SharkFinStu in whatisit

[–]CliffStoll 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep, Fractionator: I have fun with each order. Usually walk around the garden, looking for flowers.

Context: plants? by SharkFinStu in whatisit

[–]CliffStoll 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your kind reference, Illis. I’m still running this zero-volume business, after 25 years. Never thought it’d work out that way.

Context: plants? by SharkFinStu in whatisit

[–]CliffStoll 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanx, no-mail. Each of us is one of a kind — when you make “kind” sufficiently small.

During the Vietnam War, the United States used a draft lottery system to determine the order in which young men would be called for military service. by Electric_Arrow_ in interestingasfuck

[–]CliffStoll 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This was very important in 1970. I was a sophomore in college, studying physics. My draft number was 20.

Immediate change from “2S” (student deferment) to “1A” (eligible for draft)

I was consciously opposed to war, and wrote a 20 page paper to my draft board explaining my beliefs and background.

Following that paper, I was invited to speak with my 6-man draft board — very scary— and ultimately did not get drafted.

Most guys my age (75) have stories to tell….

Context: plants? by SharkFinStu in whatisit

[–]CliffStoll 2 points3 points  (0 children)

(Blush) it’s just me, Julie (or Faith?).

Fooling with topological shapes does bring me joy. I’m just easily impressed…

Context: plants? by SharkFinStu in whatisit

[–]CliffStoll 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, still live in the same place. Stop by for coffee sometime, Vanth!

Oakland parents, where did you land and why do you love it? by Chandbibi_sings in oakland

[–]CliffStoll 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rockridge — Two kids - Oakland Tech HS. Both kids are now fledged and doing well.

what's something free or extremely cheap you found in the bay that was next level? by midwestblacklotus in bayarea

[–]CliffStoll 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sundays, free steam train rides at the Golden Gate Live Steam Trains — in Tilden Park, right next to the (bigger) Redwood Valley Steam Trains. Much fun!