Steve Gibson (computer programmer): Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Computer enthusiast, software engineer and security researcher}}

{{other people|Steve Gibson}}

{{Lead too short|date=February 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{Infobox person

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| image = SteveG.jpg

| caption = Gibson in 2007

| nickname = "Steve Tiberius Gibson"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-700.htm |title=Security Now! Transcript of Episode #700 |website=www.grc.com |access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|3|26}}<ref name="twit">{{cite web |url=http://twit.tv/show/security-now/500 |title=Security Now 500 |publisher=TWiT.TV |access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>

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'''Steven'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/CBS/SearchResults?SearchType=CORP&SearchCriteria=gibson+research+corporation&SearchSubType=Keyword |title=California Business Search for "gibson research corporation" |website=California Secretary of State |access-date=2017-11-03}}</ref> "'''Steve Tiberius'''"M.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wwwtwit.grc.comtv/snshows/snsecurity-700.htmnow/episodes/948?autostart=false |title=Security Now! Transcript of Episode #700948 (jump to 2'15) |website=wwwtwit.grc.comtv |access-date=20192023-0211-1216}}</ref> '''Gibson''' (born March&nbsp;26, 1955) is an American [[software engineer]], security researcher, and IT security proponent. In the early 1980s, he worked on [[light pen]] technology for use with Apple and Atari systems, and in 1985, founded '''Gibson Research Corporation''', best known for its [[SpinRite]] software. He is also known for his work on the [[Security Now]] podcast.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm | title=GRC &#124; Security Now! Episode Archive }}</ref>

==Early life==

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Gibson was hired as a programmer for [[California Pacific Computer Company]] in 1980, where he worked on copy protection for the company's products.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Knudsen |first=Richard |title=Exec California Pacific: Innovative Marketing Budges |url=http://www.softalkapple.com/sites/default/files/Softalk_V1.05_draft.pdf |journal=Softalk Magazine |date=January 1981 |volume=1 |number=5 |page=34}}</ref> He then founded Gibson Laboratories in [[Laguna Hills, California]], in 1981, which developed a [[light pen]] for the [[Apple II]], Atari, and other platforms before going out of business in 1983.<ref name=GibsonResume>{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Gibson |url=https://www.grc.com/resume.htm |title=Steve's Resumé |work=GRC.com |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ei4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61 |title=Hardware: Light Pen Technology looks to the Micro |last=Mace |first=Scott |date=December 26, 1983 |page=61 |work=InfoWorld |access-date=January 27, 2015 |quote=The Gibson Light Pen has been developed for Atari home computers.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=InfoWorld Aug 9, 1982 / P13-17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NDAEAAAAMBAJ&q=david+needle+lps+II&pg=PA13|website=books.google.com|date = August 9, 1982|publisher=Popular Computing Inc|access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref>

In 1985, Gibson founded Gibson Research Corporation (GRC), a computer [[software development]] firm,<ref name=GibsonResume/> and from 1986 to 1993, he wrote the "Tech Talk" column for ''[[InfoWorld]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ToEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102 |title=SpinRite upgrade |date=October 11, 1993 |work=InfoWorld |quote=...Steve Gibson, whose Tech Talk column has run in InfoWorld for close to eight years...}}</ref>

In 1999, Gibson created one of the first [[adware]] removal programs, which he called OptOut.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lavasoft |url=http://www.lavasoft.com/mylavasoft/securitycenter/articles/spyware-history |title=The History of Spyware |work=Lavasoft.com |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=May 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508021736/http://www.lavasoft.com/mylavasoft/securitycenter/articles/spyware-history |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2001, he predicted that Microsoft's implementation of the [[raw socket|SOCK_RAW]] protocol in the initial release of [[Windows&nbsp;XP]] would lead to widespread chaos by making it easier for Windows&nbsp;XP users to create [[denial of service]] (DoS) attacks.<ref>{{cite news |first=Deborah |last=Radcliff |work=Computerworld |date=October 22, 2001 |url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2585406/operating-systems/windows-xp--is-it-safe-.html |title=Windows XP: Is it safe?}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |type=video |url=http://www.vpwsys.net/download/grc_low.wma | title=Raw Sockets Debate: Steve Gibson with Tom C. Greene |year=2001 |work=Online Tonight with David Lawrence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/detailsweb/stevegibsoninterviewrawsocketsgrc20160304040855/http://www.vpwsys.net/download/grc_low.wma |archive-date=MayMarch 74, 2014 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=February 7, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Seth |last=Fogie |work=InformIT |date=June 21, 2002 |url=http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=27289 |title=Raw Sockets Revisited: What Happened to the End of the Internet?}}</ref> That year, his company's website was brought down by DoS attacks<ref name=MillarGuardian /> which continued for two weeks. Gibson blogged about the attacks and his (ultimately successful) efforts to track down the hacker.<ref name=MillarGuardian>{{cite news |first=Stuart |last=Millar |work=The Guardian |date=June 5, 2001 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/jun/05/hacking.security |title=Teenage hackers}}</ref> Three years after the Windows&nbsp;XP release, Microsoft limited raw socket support in [[Windows XP#Service Pack 2|Service Pack&nbsp;2]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Griffiths |work=IanG on Tap |date=August 12, 2004 |url=http://www.interact-sw.co.uk/iangblog/2004/08/12/norawsockets |title=Raw Sockets Gone in XP SP2}}</ref>

In 2005, he launched a weekly [[podcast]] called ''[[Security Now]]'' with [[Leo Laporte]] on [[TWiT.tv]], with its archives hosted on GRC's website.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grc.com/sn/past/2005.htm |title=Security Now! Episode Archive |work=GRC.com |publisher=Gibson Research Corporation |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Bowers |work=Slate |date=December 9, 2005 |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/podcasts/2005/12/slates_podcast_roundup.html |title=Slate's Podcast Roundup}}</ref> In November 2024, the podcast hit 1,000 episodes, more than Gibson ever had intended.

In 2006, Gibson raised the possibility that the [[Windows Metafile vulnerability]] bug was actually a [[Backdoor (computing)|backdoor]] intentionally engineered into the system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-022.htm |title=Security Now! Episode Archive |work=GRC.com |publisher=Gibson Research Corporation |access-date=December 12, 2017}}</ref> A response by Microsoft,<ref>{{cite news|last=Toulouse|first=Stephen|date=January 13, 2006|title=Looking at the WMF issue, how did it get there?|work=Microsoft Security Response Center|url=http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2006/01/13/417431.aspx|url-status=dead|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060116042756/http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2006/01/13/417431.aspx|archive-date=January 16, 2006}}</ref> and by [[Mark Russinovich]] on Microsoft's ''Technet'' blog,<ref>{{cite news|last=Helweg|first=Otto|date=January 18, 2006|title=Inside the WMF Backdoor|work=Mark Russinovich's Blog|url=http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2006/01/18/inside-the-wmf-backdoor.aspx|access-date=October 29, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218003852/http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2006/01/18/inside-the-wmf-backdoor.aspx|archive-date=December 18, 2006}}</ref> stated that the bug appeared to be coding error and that Gibson's reasoning was based upon Microsoft's abort procedure documentation being misleading.

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GRC has created a number of [[utility software|utilities]], most of which are [[freeware]].<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Luo |url=http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/fileadmin/cp_archive/pdf/0303/0303_Psyberpsy.pdf |title=Open-source and general public license programs cost little or nothing. Are they right for your practice? |work=Current Psychiatry |date=March 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel S. |last=Coolidge |work=GPSolo Magazine |date=January–February 2006 |url=http://www.americanbar.org/newsletter/publications/gp_solo_magazine_home/gp_solo_magazine_index/cybervermin.html |title=Cyber-Vermin: Dealing with Dangerous Fauna Infesting the Internet}}</ref>

* [https://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm DNS Benchmark], freeware that lets users test the performance of the ___domain name servers used by their internet service providers.<ref>{{cite webnews |author=Softpedia |url=http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Network-Testing/DNS-Benchmark.shtml |title=DNS Benchmark |work=Softpedia |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref>

* [https://www.grc.com/securable.htm Securable], freeware to test whether a pre-[[Windows 7]] computer is 64-bit compatible. It also tells the user whether [[Data Execution Prevention]] is enabled.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jorge |last=Orchilles |title=Microsoft Windows 7 Administrator's Reference: Upgrading, Deploying, Managing, and Securing Windows 7 |publisher=Syngress |year=2010 |isbn=9781597495622 |page=10}}</ref>

* [[Shields UpShieldsUP]], a free browser-based firewall testing service; one of the oldest available<ref>{{cite web |first=J. D. |last=Biersdorfer |work=The New York Times |date=April 6, 2010 |url=http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/qatorching-your-firewall-on-purpose/?_r=0 |title=Q.&A.: Torching Your Firewall — On Purpose}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Woody |last=Leonhard |title=Windows XP Timesaving Techniques For Dummies |url=https://archive.org/details/windowsxptimesav00leon |url-access=registration |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2005 |isbn=9780764596179 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/windowsxptimesav00leon/page/429 429–30]}}</ref>

* [[SpinRite]], a [[hard disk]] scanning and [[data recovery]] utility first released in 1988.<ref name="pcmag1">{{cite news |title=First Looks |first1=Edward |last1=Mendelson |author-link1=Edward Mendelson |first2=Craig L. |last2= Stark |work=PC Magazine |date=October 11, 1988 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_H7d93IWwogC&q=spinrite&pg=PA38}}</ref> {{as of|2019|01}} the current version was 6.0,<ref name=SpinRite>{{cite web |work=GRC.com |url=https://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm |title=SpinRite |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref> which was first released in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Mainelli |work=PCWorld |date=August 2, 2004 |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/117080/article.html |title=Review: SpinRite 6 to the Rescue}}</ref> SpinRite is a commercial product, costing {{US$|89}} {{as of|2021|07|lc=y}}.<ref name=SpinRite/> Gibson's work on SpinRite has led to him being considered an expert on hard drive failure.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nate |last=Anderson |work=Ars Technica |date=February 25, 2007 |url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2007/02/8917/ |title=Experts: No cure in sight for unpredictable hard drive loss}}</ref>

* Spoofarino, freeware released in 2006 and promised since the controversy over the launch of Windows&nbsp;XP in 2001, it enables users to test whether their internet service providers allow them to send forged or "spoofed" packets of data to Gibson's Webweb site.<ref name=SpoofarinoLaunch>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Rosenberger |work=Spyware Point |date=April 1, 2006 |url=http://www.spywarepoint.com/steve-gibson-finally-releases-ddos-attack-tool-t56793.html |title=Steve Gibson finally releases DDoS attack tool}}</ref>

* [https://www.grc.com/never10.htm Never10], standalone freeware program that toggles registry values in Windows&nbsp;7, 8, and 8.1, which either disables or enables Microsoft's Get Windows&nbsp;10 app and automatic OS upgrade. As of version 1.3, it also triggers the removal of any previously downloaded [[Windows&nbsp;10]] upgrade files as part of the disable function.<ref>{{cite webnews|title=Steve Gibson's Never 10 Helps You Turn Off the Windows 10 Upgrade|url=https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/65706/steve-gibsons-never-10-helps-turn-off-windows-10-upgrade-announcement|website=thurrott.com|date=March 28, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2016|last1=Thurrott |first1=Paul }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=This simple app will block Microsoft from downloading Windows 10 on your PC|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/never-10-stops-windows-10-upgrade-2016-3|access-date=April 30, 2016|publisher=businessinsider.com}}</ref> He has also stated that he is producing "Never11", to stop automatic upgrading to
* [[Windows&nbsp;11]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-857incontrol.htm|title=Security Now!InControl], Transcriptstops automatic upgrading of EpisodeWindows 10 #857}}</ref>and 11.

* [https://www.grc.com/inspectre.htm InSpectre], a utility that examines a computer's vulnerability to the [[Meltdown (security vulnerability)|Meltdown]] and [[Spectre (security vulnerability)|Spectre]] attacks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/inspectre-lets-you-quickly-check-if-your-pc-vulnerable-meltdown-and-spectre |title=InSpectre will quickly check if your PC is vulnerable to Meltdown and Spectre |last=Thorp-Lancaster |first=Dan |date=January 17, 2017 |work=Windows Central |publisher=Mobile Nations |access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref>

* [https://www.grc.com/initdisk.htm InitDisk], a tool that was developed for GRC's next releaseSpinRite of SpinRite(6.1)., It'sis a safe [[USB]] drive formatter that allows the user to reformat any USB device and make it bootable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grc.com/initdisk.htm |title=GRC InitDisk}}</ref>

* [https://www.grc.com/readspeed.htm ReadSpeed], an accurate benchmark for PC [[mass storage]]. The tool measures stability and repeatability to a precision of more than 4 significant digits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grc.com/readspeed.htm |title=GRC ReadSpeed}}</ref>

* InControl[https://www.grc.com/validrive.htm ValiDrive], a tool whichthat allowsvalidates managingwhether Windows&nbsp;10or andnot 11[[USB out-of-controlflash updatingdrive]]s andor upgrading.other It[[Removable media]] are actually capable of isstoring the successoramount toof Never10data that they claim to. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grc.com/incontrolvalidrive.htm | title=GRC InControl ValiDrive}}</ref>

* [https://www.grc.com/otg/uheprng.htm Ultra-High Entropy PRNG] ([[Pseudorandom number generator|Pseudo-Random Number Generator]]) which are critical to any and all computerized operation.{{promotion-inline|date=December 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=GRC's UHE PRNG |url=https://www.grc.com/otg/uheprng.htm |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=www.grc.com}}</ref>

* [https://www.grc.com/sqrl/sqrl.htm SQRL Login Technology] (Simple Quick Reliable Login, pronounced “squirrel”) is an open, free, intellectual property unencumbered, complete and practical system to cryptographically authenticate the identity of individuals across a network (..) it can replace '''all''' other systems while offering dramatic improvements in usability and security.{{promotion-inline|date=December 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=GRC's Secure Quick Reliable Login |url=https://www.grc.com/sqrl/sqrl.htm |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=www.grc.com}}</ref>

==Works==

{{refbegin}}

*{{cite book | last1 = Gibson | first1 = Steve | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 1991 | title = A Passion for Technology, 1986 - 1990 Cumulative Index and 1986 | ___location = Aliso Viejo, California | publisher = Gibson Research Corporation | isbn = 978-1880814864 | ol = OL28048112M | oclc = 1245623144 }}

*{{cite book | last1 = Gibson | first1 = Steve | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 1991 | title = A Passion for Technology 1987 | ___location = Aliso Viejo, California | publisher = Gibson Research Corporation | volume = One 1| isbn = 978-1880814871 | oclc = 1245623144 }}

*{{cite book | last1 = Gibson | first1 = Steve | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 1991 | title = A Passion for Technology 1988 | url = https://archive.org/details/passionfortechno0000gibs | access-date = 2022-01-01 | ___location = Aliso Viejo, California | publisher = Gibson Research Corporation | volume = Two 2|isbn = 978-1880814888

| oclc = 1245623144 | ol = OL27971346M | via = [[Internet Archive]] | df = dmy-all}}

*{{cite book | last1 = Gibson | first1 = Steve | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 1991 | title = A Passion for Technology 1989 | ___location = Aliso Viejo, California | publisher = Gibson Research Corporation | volume = Three 3| isbn = 978-1880814895 | oclc = 1245623144 | ol = OL27971314M }}

*{{cite book | last1 = Gibson | first1 = Steve | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 1991 |title = A Passion for Technology 1990 | ___location = Aliso Viejo, California | publisher = Gibson Research Corporation | volume = Four 4| isbn = 978-1880814901 | oclc = 1245623144 }}

{{refend}}

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==

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[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:American computer programmers]]

[[Category:American podcasters]]

[[Category:Computer security specialists]]

[[Category:Businesspeople from Dayton, Ohio]]