Re:Peter Neumann Has Died
by dredmorbius on Tuesday May 19, 2026 @08:47AM
(#48192584)
Neumann had a tremendous impact on perception and curation of technology-related risks. His passing is a moment of sadness.
It wasn't unforeseeable, however, and it pains me to see on the Catless RISKS archive this note: "I'm sad to have to tell you that Peter Neumann died on the 17th May. This website will be here as long as I am able to maintain it, but whether or not there is any future RISKS content anywhere, I cannot say."
Death is a risk, but not an inconceivable one, and it's a reminder that whilst a single individual can often drive with singular vision and surprising efficacy a project, that if they fail to establish some broader foundation, that project dies with them.
It wasn't unforeseeable, however, and it pains me to see on the Catless RISKS archive this note: "I'm sad to have to tell you that Peter Neumann died on the 17th May. This website will be here as long as I am able to maintain it, but whether or not there is any future RISKS content anywhere, I cannot say."
<https://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/>
Death is a risk, but not an inconceivable one, and it's a reminder that whilst a single individual can often drive with singular vision and surprising efficacy a project, that if they fail to establish some broader foundation, that project dies with them.
I'd noted this myself, in this context, several years ago: <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37582242>.
I continue to hope that RISKS may survive Peter.