The KGB, the Computer, and Me (Complete)
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN lists it among favorite nerdy documentaries and enjoys hearing Stoll tell the story himself.
What it is
The 1990 NOVA documentary follows astronomer Clifford Stoll as he tracks a hacker through military and research computer networks, a story that involved the CIA and KGB. It is based on The Cuckoo's Egg.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2016 to 2019.
What Hacker News said
Recommends wmat · 2018-09 · on “Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?”
Some of my favourite nerdy documentaries: BBS: The Documentary [LINK] The KGB, the Computer, and Me [this video] 8 Bit Generation: The Commodore Wars [LINK]
Recommends otakucode · 2019-06 · on “Get an Acme Klein Bottle”
Oh, yes, that is the documentary I watched. It was really great, getting to hear it from Mr. Stoll's mouth directly. He was much less enthusiastic than he tends to be in Numberphile videos, I imagine that might be down to the director of the film. It is available on YouTube if anyone cares to give it a watch! [this video]
Cites meatsock · 2016-09 · on “Olduse.net: a 30-year delayed Usenet feed (2013)”
cliff stoll made an ... interesting movie of this book. its fun to watch and would probably make a good drinking game. : [this video]
Cites gabrielblack · 2019-01 · on “The Cuckoo's Egg”
"The book was chronicled in an episode of WGBH’s NOVA entitled “The KGB, the Computer, and Me”, which aired on PBS stations on October 3, 1990" I think it's this one: [this video] Oh,me I'm ROFL: an actor is identical to one of X-Files "Lone Gunmen". When he explains the beeper to his wife I needed the oxygen. It's like "Doctor Who vs hackers" :-)