Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (Cyborg)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo

CIRCLE WITH A DOT

  1. Home
  2. Uncategorized
  3. You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Uncategorized
21 Posts 19 Posters 3 Views
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • mattblaze@federate.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
    mattblaze@federate.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
    mattblaze@federate.social
    wrote last edited by
    #1

    You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

    I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

    cstross@wandering.shopC E K davebiff@mas.toD megatronicthronbanks@mastodon.socialM 12 Replies Last reply
    1
    0
    • R relay@relay.infosec.exchange shared this topic
    • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

      You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

      I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

      cstross@wandering.shopC This user is from outside of this forum
      cstross@wandering.shopC This user is from outside of this forum
      cstross@wandering.shop
      wrote last edited by
      #2

      @mattblaze comp.risks came as a revelation to me when I first stumbled onto the listserv in 1989.

      ireneista@adhd.irenes.spaceI edbruce@infosec.exchangeE 2 Replies Last reply
      0
      • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

        @mattblaze comp.risks came as a revelation to me when I first stumbled onto the listserv in 1989.

        ireneista@adhd.irenes.spaceI This user is from outside of this forum
        ireneista@adhd.irenes.spaceI This user is from outside of this forum
        ireneista@adhd.irenes.space
        wrote last edited by
        #3

        @cstross @mattblaze yeah we were kids but we read it a bit too, and it definitely gave us important perspective

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

          You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

          I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

          E This user is from outside of this forum
          E This user is from outside of this forum
          eigen@mattstodon.panar.ooo
          wrote last edited by
          #4

          @mattblaze I'm unfamiliar with him/his work; could you maybe provide a tiny summary or pointer to his confrontations with unreliability? That sounds like an interesting topic

          B mkoek@mastodon.nlM 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

            You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

            I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

            K This user is from outside of this forum
            K This user is from outside of this forum
            karunr@infosec.exchange
            wrote last edited by
            #5

            @mattblaze sorry to hear that. The Risks newsletter inspired me to get into cybersecurity

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

              You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

              I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

              davebiff@mas.toD This user is from outside of this forum
              davebiff@mas.toD This user is from outside of this forum
              davebiff@mas.to
              wrote last edited by
              #6

              @mattblaze His RISKS digest was always interesting (and often alarming). RIP

              bzdev@fosstodon.orgB 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • E eigen@mattstodon.panar.ooo

                @mattblaze I'm unfamiliar with him/his work; could you maybe provide a tiny summary or pointer to his confrontations with unreliability? That sounds like an interesting topic

                B This user is from outside of this forum
                B This user is from outside of this forum
                benbradley@mastodon.online
                wrote last edited by
                #7

                @eigen @mattblaze It's surely "somewhere in here." I think reading some will give you an idea. I recall an election result off by 4096 (or some power of 2) votes. I read comp.risks off and on for years, then decided to stop as I was having vague nightmares.
                https://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • E eigen@mattstodon.panar.ooo

                  @mattblaze I'm unfamiliar with him/his work; could you maybe provide a tiny summary or pointer to his confrontations with unreliability? That sounds like an interesting topic

                  mkoek@mastodon.nlM This user is from outside of this forum
                  mkoek@mastodon.nlM This user is from outside of this forum
                  mkoek@mastodon.nl
                  wrote last edited by
                  #8

                  @eigen @mattblaze found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_G._Neumann

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                    You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                    I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                    megatronicthronbanks@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                    megatronicthronbanks@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                    megatronicthronbanks@mastodon.social
                    wrote last edited by
                    #9

                    @mattblaze https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/obituaries/peter-g-neumann-dead.html

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • stuartyeates@cloudisland.nzS This user is from outside of this forum
                      stuartyeates@cloudisland.nzS This user is from outside of this forum
                      stuartyeates@cloudisland.nz
                      wrote last edited by
                      #10

                      @futuresprog @mattblaze

                      Had a few things published in RISKS in a former life.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                        You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                        I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                        jayalane@mastodon.onlineJ This user is from outside of this forum
                        jayalane@mastodon.onlineJ This user is from outside of this forum
                        jayalane@mastodon.online
                        wrote last edited by
                        #11

                        @mattblaze I felt so strongly when a feature I implemented was featured in the risks digest! (We emailed forgotten password in plaintext back to the user; it was the 90s!) I loved reading that and his authoritative assessment of it all.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                          @mattblaze comp.risks came as a revelation to me when I first stumbled onto the listserv in 1989.

                          edbruce@infosec.exchangeE This user is from outside of this forum
                          edbruce@infosec.exchangeE This user is from outside of this forum
                          edbruce@infosec.exchange
                          wrote last edited by
                          #12

                          @cstross @mattblaze I was working mainly DoD stuff then and loved all talk of digitizing the up to then mostly analog systems. Many of the issues was all the analog safety feedback mechanisms not being implemented at all in the digital controllers.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                            You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                            I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                            bzdev@fosstodon.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                            bzdev@fosstodon.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                            bzdev@fosstodon.org
                            wrote last edited by
                            #13

                            @mattblaze Peter will be missed. BTW, for some years, I worked in the same building as Peter, but in a different group. He was always pleasant and, of course, highly competent.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                              You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                              I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                              not2b@sfba.socialN This user is from outside of this forum
                              not2b@sfba.socialN This user is from outside of this forum
                              not2b@sfba.social
                              wrote last edited by
                              #14

                              @mattblaze I subscribed to his RISKS forum back in the early 80s (yes, I am old).

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                                You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                                I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                                oclsc@mstdn.caO This user is from outside of this forum
                                oclsc@mstdn.caO This user is from outside of this forum
                                oclsc@mstdn.ca
                                wrote last edited by
                                #15

                                @mattblaze I hadn't heard. His long life and contributions should be celebrated!

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                                  You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                                  I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                                  beachbum@mastodon.sdf.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                                  beachbum@mastodon.sdf.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                                  beachbum@mastodon.sdf.org
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #16

                                  @mattblaze I am so sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace and his memory be a blessing.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                                    You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                                    I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                                    cigitalgem@sigmoid.socialC This user is from outside of this forum
                                    cigitalgem@sigmoid.socialC This user is from outside of this forum
                                    cigitalgem@sigmoid.social
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #17

                                    @mattblaze I consider PGN one of my mentors. Such an interesting fella. He will be missed...terrible puns and all.

                                    koehntopp@infosec.exchangeK 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                                      You may have heard that Peter Neumann passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

                                      I cannot do his memory and legacy justice here, but I will say that his work (and friendship and support) influenced almost everything I've worked on. He was one of the first computer scientists to confront (well before it was popular to do so) the fact that computers and software are unreliable in both theory and practice.

                                      mattblaze@federate.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                      mattblaze@federate.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                      mattblaze@federate.social
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #18

                                      Peter’s NYT obituary: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/obituaries/peter-g-neumann-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jVA.pDm5.QUlwAMJBQtDV

                                      darwinwoodka@mastodon.socialD 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • mattblaze@federate.socialM mattblaze@federate.social

                                        Peter’s NYT obituary: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/obituaries/peter-g-neumann-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jVA.pDm5.QUlwAMJBQtDV

                                        darwinwoodka@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                        darwinwoodka@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                        darwinwoodka@mastodon.social
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #19

                                        @mattblaze a giant gone. Damn

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • davebiff@mas.toD davebiff@mas.to

                                          @mattblaze His RISKS digest was always interesting (and often alarming). RIP

                                          bzdev@fosstodon.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                                          bzdev@fosstodon.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                                          bzdev@fosstodon.org
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #20

                                          @davebiff @mattblaze Peter once told us about an incident where an X-ray machine killed a patient. Its snazzy GUI got a lot of testing for sequences of inputs, but when used by a technician, the inputs came in much faster. There was a race condition resulting in an inappropriate configuration. Peter mentioned the lack of sanity checks - the patient complained about feeling warm and the technician ignored that, passing it off as babbling.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups