This is not something I was expecting or ever imagining I would write; I’ve just heard.

This is a tremendous loss for us all.

Professor Ross Anderson, FRS, FREng

Our dear friend and treasured long term campaigner for privacy and security,  Professor of Security Engineering at Cambridge University and Edinburgh University, Lovelace Medal winner, died suddenly at the family home in Cambridge overnight.

Duncan Campbell

⊞

16 Replies to “Prof Ross Anderson, RIP”

1. Neil Brown
   2024/03/29 at 13:17

   @alecm Oh, wow. Thanks for sharing.

2. John E Dunn
   2024/03/29 at 13:49

   A big loss – when Ross spoke, I always took time to listen.

   Reply
3. Ian Turton
   2024/03/29 at 14:22

   @alecm thanks for sharing, I remember him fondly from the comp.risks newsnet days

4. Christiane Peters
   2024/03/29 at 16:06

   @alecm My condolences to you and his family. It’s a sad day.

5. gabe
   2024/03/29 at 16:08

   a terrible, terrible loss

   Reply
6. Alec Muffett
   2024/03/29 at 16:45

   Direct from Duncan:
   https://twitter.com/duncan_2qq/status/1773752269395099774?s=20

   Reply
   1. Dan McD.
      2024/03/29 at 16:58

      Fucking COVID… what a terrible loss.

      Reply
7. Kim SJ
   2024/03/29 at 17:19

   Sad news indeed. The world is poorer today.

   Reply
8. Andy Farnell
   2024/03/29 at 17:52

   Devastating to hear this. Ross corresponded regularly and was
   tremendously encouraging. He made me feel like there was somebody else
   out there who understood the gravity of the work we do.

   Ross has been one of the precious few who understood my thoughts about
   civic cybersecurity and how true national security is an ordinary
   daily attitude. That every grandmother and schoolchild deserves basic
   digital security, privacy and autonomy in their online life. That it
   is all our responsibilities to step up to the task that Apple,
   Google, Microsoft and our governments cannot handle alone unless we
   lead the way.

   My cybersecurity courses and indeed my own security thinking have been
   profoundly shaped by his work. The idea of “Security Engineering” as a
   serious, measurable, reproducible discipline lay in his hands.

   Ross was never anything but generous with his time and honest with his
   opinions.

   His open publishing stance (to have complete copies of his older texts
   online, which he skilfully negotiated with Wiley. is an example to
   all academics.

   His work leading the Cambridge team in doing interesting, socially
   relevant security work in a world of so many dry, inaccessible papers
   on cryptography and protocols was a refreshing beacon of light.

   We planned to meet in Edinburgh one day and share some good single
   malts. I feel lost at this news. Sincere wishes to all Ross’s family.

   Dr. Andy Farnell

   Reply
9. Grant Denkinson
   2024/03/29 at 19:52

   @alecm So sorry to hear this

10. Tom Van Vleck
    2024/03/29 at 20:25

    We have lost one of the best.

    I met Ross in 1995 at an OMG meeting in Cambridge.
    I was immediately impressed by the clarity of this thinking
    and the elegance of this writing.

    Reply
    1. alecm
       2024/03/29 at 20:33

       Ross telling me that he thought I was a good writer, is one of the best compliments I have ever received

       Reply
11. Herb Lin
    2024/03/29 at 20:51

    awful, awful news. A true pioneer in security.

    Reply
12. peter honeyman
    2024/03/29 at 21:41

    It’s a shock and a huge loss. Ross opened so many eyes through his research and writing, and was a tireless and kind mentor. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. May his memory be a blessing.

    Reply
13. mark seiden
    2024/03/29 at 22:45

    Ross was the best kind of squeaky wheel. There was logic and principle behind every squeak. Also, kind, modest, and very civilized. (I really wanted to hear his bagpipe playing but never did.)
    I’ll miss him greatly.

    Reply