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{{Short description|American computer programmer (born 1967)}}
{{Short description|American computer programmer (born 1967)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Rich Skrenta
| name = Rich Skrenta
| image = Image:Rich Skrenta.jpg
| image = Image:Rich Skrenta.jpg
| caption = Skrenta in 2009
| caption = Skrenta in 2009
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|6|6}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|6|6}}
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania, United States
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania, United States
| birth_name = Richard J. Skrenta Jr.
| birth_name = Richard J. Skrenta Jr.
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| occupation = Computer programmer, [[entrepreneur]]
| occupation = Computer programmer, [[entrepreneur]]
| known_for = Creating [[blekko]]
| known_for = Creating [[blekko]] and elk cloner
}}
}}
'''Richard J. Skrenta Jr.''' (born June 6, 1967) is an American computer programmer and [[Silicon Valley]] [[entrepreneur]] who created the [[web search engine]] [[blekko]].<ref name="blekko">Arrington, Michael (2008-01-02). "The Next Google Search Challenger: Blekko". TechCrunch, 2 January 2008. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2008/01/02/the-next-google-search-challenger-blekko/.</ref>
'''Richard J. Skrenta Jr.''' (born June 6, 1967) is an American computer programmer and [[Silicon Valley]] [[entrepreneur]] who created the [[web search engine]] [[blekko]].<ref name="blekko">Arrington, Michael (2008-01-02). "The Next Google Search Challenger: Blekko". TechCrunch, 2 January 2008. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2008/01/02/the-next-google-search-challenger-blekko/.</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Biography==
Richard J. Skrenta Jr. was born in [[Pittsburgh]] on June 6, 1967. In 1982, at age 15, as a high school student at [[Mt. Lebanon High School]], Skrenta wrote the [[Elk Cloner]] virus that infected [[Apple II]] machines. It is widely believed to have been one of the first large-scale self-spreading personal computer viruses ever created.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[CTV Television Network|CTV]]|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/prank-starts-25-years-of-computer-security-woes-1.254640|title=Prank starts 25 years of computer security woes|date=2007-08-31|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107152519/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070831/virus_prank_070831/20070831?hub=SciTech|archivedate=2008-01-07}}</ref>
Skrenta Jr. was born in [[Pittsburgh]] on June 6, 1967. In 1982, at age 15, as a high school student at [[Mt. Lebanon High School]], Skrenta wrote the [[Elk Cloner]] virus that infected [[Apple II]] computers. It is widely believed to have been one of the first large-scale self-spreading personal computer viruses ever created.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[CTV Television Network|CTV]]|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/prank-starts-25-years-of-computer-security-woes-1.254640|title=Prank starts 25 years of computer security woes|date=2007-08-31|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107152519/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070831/virus_prank_070831/20070831?hub=SciTech|archivedate=2008-01-07}}</ref>


In 1989, Skrenta graduated with a B.A. in computer science from [[Northwestern University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/annualcommenceme1989nort/annualcommenceme1989nort_djvu.txt|title=Northwestern University, 131st Annual Commencement, June 17, 1989|year=1989 }}</ref>
In 1989, Skrenta graduated with a B.A. in computer science from [[Northwestern University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/annualcommenceme1989nort/annualcommenceme1989nort_djvu.txt|title=Northwestern University, 131st Annual Commencement, June 17, 1989|year=1989 }}</ref>


==Career==
Between 1989 and 1991, Skrenta worked at [[Commodore Business Machines]] with [[Amiga Unix]].{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
Between 1989 and 1991, Skrenta worked at [[Commodore Business Machines]] with [[Amiga Unix]].{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}


In 1989, Skrenta started working on a multiplayer simulation game. In 1994, it was launched under the name ''Olympia'' as a pay-for-play [[PBEM]] game by [[Shadow Island Games]].<ref>[http://www.pbm.com/oly/ Olympia homepage]</ref>
In 1989, Skrenta started working on a multiplayer simulation game. In 1994, it was launched under the name ''Olympia'' as a pay-for-play [[PBEM]] game by Shadow Island Games.<ref>[http://www.pbm.com/oly/ Olympia homepage]</ref>


Between 1991 and 1995, Skrenta worked at Unix System Labs, and from 1996 to 1998 with IP-level encryption at [[Sun Microsystems]]. He later left Sun and became one of the founders of [[DMOZ]]. He stayed on board after the [[Netscape]] acquisition, and continued to work on the directory as well as Netscape Search, [[AOL]] Music, and AOL Shopping.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
Between 1991 and 1995, Skrenta worked at Unix System Labs, and from 1996 to 1998 with IP-level encryption at [[Sun Microsystems]]. He later left Sun and became one of the founders of [[DMOZ]]. He stayed on board after the [[Netscape]] acquisition, and continued to work on the directory as well as Netscape Search, [[AOL]] Music, and AOL Shopping.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
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In the late 2000s, Skrenta headed the startup company [[Blekko]] Inc, which was an Internet [[search engine]].<ref name="wsjblekko">[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704477904575586551374128996?mod=googlenews_wsj Start-Up Blekko Tries to Take On Google] ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', October 31, 2010</ref> Blekko received early investment support from [[Marc Andreessen]]<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2008/05/14/stealth-search-engine-blekko-gets-money-from-marc-andreessen-softtech/ Stealth Search Engine Blekko Gets Money From Marc Andreessen, SoftTech] [[TechCrunch]], May 14, 2008</ref> and began public [[beta testing]] on November 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/11/02/article/blekko_launches_human_driven_search_engine|title=Blekko launches human-driven search engine|last=Wollman|first=Dana|work=[[News & Record]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=2010-11-02|accessdate=2010-11-03}}</ref>
In the late 2000s, Skrenta headed the startup company [[Blekko]] Inc, which was an Internet [[search engine]].<ref name="wsjblekko">[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704477904575586551374128996?mod=googlenews_wsj Start-Up Blekko Tries to Take On Google] ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', October 31, 2010</ref> Blekko received early investment support from [[Marc Andreessen]]<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2008/05/14/stealth-search-engine-blekko-gets-money-from-marc-andreessen-softtech/ Stealth Search Engine Blekko Gets Money From Marc Andreessen, SoftTech] [[TechCrunch]], May 14, 2008</ref> and began public [[beta testing]] on November 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/11/02/article/blekko_launches_human_driven_search_engine|title=Blekko launches human-driven search engine|last=Wollman|first=Dana|work=[[News & Record]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=2010-11-02|accessdate=2010-11-03}}</ref>


In 2015, IBM acquired both the Blekko company and search engine for their [[Watson (computer)|Watson]] computer system.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2015/03/better-way-tap-big-data-gusher.html|title = Data, Data, Everywhere Data. Now a Better Way to Understand It|date = March 27, 2015|accessdate = 2016-02-04|website = |publisher = IBM|last = |first = }}</ref>
In 2015, [[IBM]] acquired both the Blekko company and search engine for their [[IBM Watson|Watson]] computer system.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2015/03/better-way-tap-big-data-gusher.html|title = Data, Data, Everywhere Data. Now a Better Way to Understand It|date = March 27, 2015|accessdate = 2016-02-04|website = |publisher = IBM|last = |first = }}</ref>


Skrenta was involved{{when|date=December 2016}}{{how|date=December 2016}} in the development of ''VMS Monster'', an old [[MUD]] for [[OpenVMS|VMS]]. VMS Monster was part of the inspiration for [[TinyMUD]]. He is also known for his role in developing [[TASS (software)|TASS]], an ancestor of [[Tin (newsreader)|tin]],<ref>[http://www.skrenta.com/tass/ Tass threaded newsreader] Rich Skrenta's Official Tass Page</ref> the popular threaded [[Usenet]] newsreader for [[Unix]] systems.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
Skrenta was involved{{when|date=December 2016}}{{how|date=December 2016}} in the development of ''VMS Monster'', an old [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]] for [[OpenVMS|VMS]]. VMS Monster was part of the inspiration for [[TinyMUD]]. He is also known for his role in developing [[TASS (software)|TASS]], an ancestor of [[Tin (newsreader)|tin]],<ref>[http://www.skrenta.com/tass/ Tass threaded newsreader] Rich Skrenta's Official Tass Page</ref> the popular threaded [[Usenet]] newsreader for [[Unix]] systems.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mt. Lebanon High School alumni]]
[[Category:Northwestern University alumni]]
[[Category:Northwestern University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania]]

Latest revision as of 17:41, 11 July 2024

Rich Skrenta
Skrenta in 2009
Born
Richard J. Skrenta Jr.

(1967-06-06) June 6, 1967 (age 57)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Computer programmer, entrepreneur
Known forCreating blekko and elk cloner

Richard J. Skrenta Jr. (born June 6, 1967) is an American computer programmer and Silicon Valley entrepreneur who created the web search engine blekko.[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Skrenta Jr. was born in Pittsburgh on June 6, 1967. In 1982, at age 15, as a high school student at Mt. Lebanon High School, Skrenta wrote the Elk Cloner virus that infected Apple II computers. It is widely believed to have been one of the first large-scale self-spreading personal computer viruses ever created.[2]

In 1989, Skrenta graduated with a B.A. in computer science from Northwestern University.[3]

Career

[edit]

Between 1989 and 1991, Skrenta worked at Commodore Business Machines with Amiga Unix.[citation needed]

In 1989, Skrenta started working on a multiplayer simulation game. In 1994, it was launched under the name Olympia as a pay-for-play PBEM game by Shadow Island Games.[4]

Between 1991 and 1995, Skrenta worked at Unix System Labs, and from 1996 to 1998 with IP-level encryption at Sun Microsystems. He later left Sun and became one of the founders of DMOZ. He stayed on board after the Netscape acquisition, and continued to work on the directory as well as Netscape Search, AOL Music, and AOL Shopping.[citation needed]

After his stint at AOL, Skrenta went on to cofound Topix LLC, a Web 2.0 company in the news aggregation and forums market.[5]

In 2005, Skrenta and his fellow cofounders sold a 75% share of Topix to a newspaper consortium made up of Tribune, Gannett, and Knight Ridder.[6]

In the late 2000s, Skrenta headed the startup company Blekko Inc, which was an Internet search engine.[6] Blekko received early investment support from Marc Andreessen[7] and began public beta testing on November 1, 2010.[8]

In 2015, IBM acquired both the Blekko company and search engine for their Watson computer system.[9]

Skrenta was involved[when?][how?] in the development of VMS Monster, an old MUD for VMS. VMS Monster was part of the inspiration for TinyMUD. He is also known for his role in developing TASS, an ancestor of tin,[10] the popular threaded Usenet newsreader for Unix systems.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Arrington, Michael (2008-01-02). "The Next Google Search Challenger: Blekko". TechCrunch, 2 January 2008. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2008/01/02/the-next-google-search-challenger-blekko/.
  2. ^ "Prank starts 25 years of computer security woes". CTV. Associated Press. 2007-08-31. Archived from the original on 2008-01-07.
  3. ^ "Northwestern University, 131st Annual Commencement, June 17, 1989". 1989.
  4. ^ Olympia homepage
  5. ^ USA Today (2007-04-01). "Interview with Topix founder Rich Skrenta". Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  6. ^ a b Start-Up Blekko Tries to Take On Google The Wall Street Journal, October 31, 2010
  7. ^ Stealth Search Engine Blekko Gets Money From Marc Andreessen, SoftTech TechCrunch, May 14, 2008
  8. ^ Wollman, Dana (2010-11-02). "Blekko launches human-driven search engine". News & Record. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  9. ^ "Data, Data, Everywhere Data. Now a Better Way to Understand It". IBM. March 27, 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  10. ^ Tass threaded newsreader Rich Skrenta's Official Tass Page
[edit]
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