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Ross Anderson has died

alecmuffett.com

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Re: Ross Anderson has died

#31

Post by data_maan »

dannyobrien wrote: post #11

I just want to note here just how important Ross Anderson was, not just within the UK digital community, but globally. He was the model of a politically and socially involved computer scientist -- when I first heard of him in the 90s, he was doggedly trying to point out that the then security protections against ATM (cashpoint) fraud were too weak, and that the banks were blaming customers for leaking their PIN codes…

> Ross was grumpy, unforgiving, a blistering writer of flaming emails, and sometimes oblivious of the effect his disapproval could have on others

Fact is that his seminar felt like it was being held in a prison.

I agree that he was a great scientist, as well as political activist (you could say) - a teacher and a pedagogical person he definitely was not.

Re: Ross Anderson has died

#32

Post by ablation »

data_maan wrote: post #30
greengreengrass wrote: post #15

Ross was one of the most influential people in my time at Cambridge, someone of whom I was very fond and whose work I still follow over a decade later. I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing. His dry sense of wit and humour, his uncompromising pursuit of injustice and his loathing of foolhardy decisions made by the political or moneyed elites were evident in all he did and said. Misunderstood by some, I came to…

It's true that for a eulogy only positive things should be said.

It feels as though you have some unresolved issues with this person. Perhaps this comments section isn’t the best place to grind axes?

Re: Ross Anderson has died

#33

Post by ptrott2017 »

mlb_hn wrote: post #9

he was good people

22+ odd years ago I emailed Ross out of the blue. At the time I was working at a small startup attempting to build mobile banking infrastructure for rural poor in South Africa and elsewhere. I was after a copy of a paper he had mentioned in a talk and Ross replied with a blunt to the point email about how hard he thought the problem domain we were trying to tackle was (along with a pointer to the paper I had asked about). I remember being slightly annoyed by the initial tone of his response, but it got me thinking - then thinking a lot more. There were some very well thought out reasons behind his arguments. I replied a few days later with a detailed list of how we were addressing his concerns along with some others he hadn't mentioned but also acknowledging the areas we needed to dig into further. I didn't really expect an answer, after all, I didn't know him, but he had got me to think hard on key problems and I wanted to acknowledge that.

We got a lot more than a simple reply. We got his focused feedback, constructive criticisms, pointers to other work he thought was relevant, general support, some key follow up conversations on the phone, followed by introductions to folks he knew in industry who he thought could help (who would have never entertained us at that stage otherwise). While the startup eventually didn't make it, many of the ideas we worked on did. Of the folks that we met through that whole adventure, Ross was one of the standouts. Yup, he was very good people indeed and will be sadly missed!

Re: Ross Anderson has died

#34

Post by srb24 »

I still remember an undergrad group project at Cambridge where we were in the Computing Lab discussing how we were going to build an online voting system - I said "We can worry about security later...." only to hear a deep Glaswegian brogue behind us "Oh Really?! Tell me more...." as we all turned around in horror. LOL

Re: Ross Anderson has died

#35

Post by data_maan »

ablation wrote: post #32
data_maan wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's true that for a eulogy only positive things should be said.

It feels as though you have some unresolved issues with this person. Perhaps this comments section isn’t the best place to grind axes?

No, I am at ease with him.

But I wanted to point out that the reporting on him here is one-sided (as it should be for a eulogy); but see my other comment below.

Re: Ross Anderson has died

#36

Post by toomuchtodo »

leavenotracks wrote: post #28

Very sad to learn of his passing. I came across his work after Bruce Schneier posted a link to a pre print of Ross’s Security Engineering tome. His clarity of thought and effortless navigation through this complex landscape has been inspiring. Also discovered subsequently his fondness for traditional pipe music and that he busked in his younger years. A great person - may others bear the light that he brought.

Bruce Schneier remembrance post: https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2024/03/ross-anderson...

Re: Ross Anderson has died

#37

Post by MarkFoster »

MarkFoster wrote: post #21

As a close personal friend of Ross and a fellow Computer person, I know he would like everything you have said about himself and his huge contribution to Computer Science. Both the positive and negative comments would make him smile, He knew and we often discussed late in to the night over a glass of red wine or two, his and others work, always interesting and always on point. He was especially pleased if something h…

I spent the afternoon yesterday (Wednesday) with Shireen and the whole family, joining us was Robert Brady another life long friend. Shireen and their daughter Bavarni obviously upset were the epitome of grace and calmness as one would expect from such a wonderful family. Ross would have been very proud of them!
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