Kevin Mitnick

Template:Pp-pc1 Template:Short description Template:Pp-pc Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person

Kevin David Mitnick (August 6, 1963 – July 16, 2023) was an American computer security consultant, author, and convicted hacker. In 1995, he was arrested for various computer and communications-related crimes, and spent five years in prison after being convicted of fraud and illegally intercepting communications.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Mitnick's pursuit, arrest, trial and sentence were all controversialTemplate:Clarify, as were the associated media coverage, books, and films.<ref name="kroll">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After his release from prison, he ran his own security firm, Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC, and was also involved with other computer security businesses.

Early life and educationEdit

Mitnick was born on August 6, 1963,<ref name="WaPoObit" /> in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His father was Alan Mitnick, his mother was Shelly Jaffe, and his maternal grandmother was Reba Vartanian.<ref name="nyt">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mitnick was Jewish,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and grew up in Los Angeles, California.<ref name="WaPoObit" /> At age 12, Mitnick convinced a bus driver to tell him where he could buy his own ticket punch for "a school project", and was then able to ride any bus in the greater Los Angeles area using unused transfer slips he found in a dumpster next to the bus company garage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mitnick attended James Monroe High School in North Hills,<ref name="ghostinwiresmya00mitn_0" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> during which time he became a licensed amateur radio operator with callsign WA6VPS<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (his license was restored after imprisonment with callsign N6NHG<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>). He chose the nickname "Condor" after watching the movie Three Days of the Condor.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was later enrolled at Los Angeles Pierce College and USC.<ref name="ghostinwiresmya00mitn_0" />

CareerEdit

For a time, Mitnick worked as a receptionist for Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles.<ref name="ghostinwiresmya00mitn_0" />

Computer hackingEdit

Mitnick gained unauthorized access to a computer network in 1979, at 16, when a friend gave him the telephone number for the Ark, the computer system that Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) used for developing its RSTS/E operating system software.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He broke into DEC's computer network and copied the company's software, a crime for which he was charged and convicted in 1988. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Near the end of his supervised release, Mitnick hacked into Pacific Bell voicemail computers. After a warrant was issued for his arrest, Mitnick fled, becoming a fugitive for two-and-a-half years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

According to the United States Department of Justice, Mitnick gained unauthorized access to dozens of computer networks while he was a fugitive. He used cloned cellular phones to hide his location and, among other things, copied valuable proprietary software from some of the country's largest cellular telephone and computer companies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="rose">Template:Cite book</ref> Mitnick also intercepted and stole computer passwords, altered computer networks, and broke into and read private emails.<ref name="rose" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Arrest, conviction, and incarcerationEdit

File:Free Kevin sticker.svg

CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After a well-publicized pursuit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Mitnick on February 15, 1995 at his apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina on federal offenses related to a two-and-a-half-year period of computer hacking that included computer and wire fraud.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>The Colbert ReportTemplate:Nonspecific</ref> He was found with cloned cell phones, more than 100 cloned cellular phone codes, and multiple pieces of false identification.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 1998, Mitnick was charged in the United States District Court for the Central District of California with 14 counts of wire fraud, eight counts of possession of unauthorized access devices, interception of wire or electronic communications, unauthorized access to a federal computer, and causing damage to a computer.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> As part of a plea bargain, Mitnick pleaded guilty in 1999 to four counts of wire fraud, two counts of computer fraud, and one count of illegally intercepting a wire communication. U.S. district judge Mariana Pfaelzer sentenced Mitnick to 46 months in federal prison plus 22 months for violating the terms of his 1989 supervised release sentence for computer fraud. He admitted to violating the terms of supervised release by hacking into Pacific Bell voicemail and other systems and to associating with known computer hackers, in this case co-defendant Lewis De Payne.<ref name="sciencedirect.com">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, but it was not used as evidence because he pleaded guilty before going to trial.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mitnick served five years in prison—four-and-a-half years' pre-trial and eight months in solitary confinement, because, according to Mitnick, law enforcement officials convinced a judge that he had the ability to "start a nuclear war by whistling into a pay phone",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> implying that law enforcement told the judge that he could somehow dial into the NORAD modem via a payphone from prison and communicate with the modem by whistling to launch nuclear missiles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition, a number of media outlets reported on the unavailability of kosher meals at the prison where he was incarcerated.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Mitnick was released from prison on January 21, 2000. During his supervised release period, which ended on January 21, 2003, he was initially forbidden to use any communications technology other than a landline telephone.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Under the plea deal, Mitnick was also prohibited from profiting from films or books based on his criminal activity for seven years, under a variation of the Son of Sam law.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In December 2001, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) judge ruled that Mitnick was sufficiently rehabilitated to possess a federally issued amateur radio license.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

ControversyEdit

Mitnick's criminal activities, arrest, and trial, along with the associated journalism, were all controversial.<ref name="kroll" /> Though Mitnick was convicted of copying software unlawfully,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> his supporters argue that his punishment was excessive and that many of the charges against him were fraudulent<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and not based on actual losses.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

John Markoff and Tsutomu Shimomura, who had both been part of the pursuit of Mitnick, wrote the book Takedown about Mitnick's capture.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The case against Mitnick tested the new laws that had been enacted for dealing with computer crime and it raised public awareness of security involving networked computers. The controversy remains and the Mitnick story is often cited today as an example of the influence of news media on law enforcement personnel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ConsultingEdit

After his release in 2000, Mitnick became a paid security consultant, public speaker, and author. He carried out security consulting for, performed penetration testing services, and taught social engineering classes to companies and government agencies. He ran Mitnick Security Consulting LLC, a computer security consultancy and was part owner of KnowBe4, provider of an integrated platform for security awareness training and simulated phishing testing,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> as well as an active advisory board member at Zimperium,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a firm that develops a mobile intrusion prevention system.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He resided in Las Vegas, Nevada.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

DeathEdit

Mitnick died from pancreatic cancer on July 16, 2023, at the age of 59 at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hospital.<ref name="nyt" /> At the time of his death, he was married and his wife, Kimberley Mitnick (age 36), was pregnant with their first child, a son.<ref name="WaPoObit">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MediaEdit

File:Lamo-Mitnick-Poulsen.png

Hacker Adrian Lamo (arrested 2003), Kevin Mitnick, and reformed hacker Kevin Poulsen (released from prison 1996) (photo Template:C. 2001)

In 2000, Skeet Ulrich and Russell Wong portrayed Mitnick and Tsutomu Shimomura, respectively, in the movie Track Down (known as Takedown outside the US), which was based on the book Takedown by John Markoff and Shimomura. The DVD was released in September 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mitnick also appeared in Werner Herzog's documentary Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (2016).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

BooksEdit

Written by MitnickEdit

Mitnick is the co-author, with William L. Simon and Robert Vamosi, of four books, three on computer security and an autobiography:

(2002) The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
(2005) The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders & Deceivers<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
(2011) Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker<ref name="ghostinwiresmya00mitn_0">Template:Cite book</ref>
(2017) The Art of Invisibility<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Authorized by MitnickEdit

(1996) The Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick, Jonathan Littman<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

BibliographyEdit

Movies and TV SeriesEdit

[https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0309614

 | title/{{#if: {{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0309614|2=^tt}}
   | Template:Trim/
   | tt0309614/
   }}
 | {{#if: {{#property:P345|from=}}
   | title/Template:First word/
   | find?q=%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D&s=tt
   }}
 }}{{#ifeq: {{#invoke:If any equal|main|Q618779|Q67325957|Q33999|value=Template:Wikidata}} | yes 
     | {{#switch: Template:Wikidata 
       | Q618779 
       | Q67325957  = awards Awards for
       | Q33999  = fullcredits Full cast and crew of
       }}
   | {{#if: Template:Wikidata 
     | {{#switch: Template:Wikidata
       | Q63032896 
       | Q66763446  = fullcredits Full cast and crew of
       | Q107974527 
       | Q482994  = soundtrack Soundtrack of
       }}
     }}
   }} Template:Trim] at {{#if: | IMDb | IMDb }}Template:EditAtWikidata{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb title with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | 3 | description | id | link_hide | qid | quotes | title }}{{#switch: {{#invoke:String2|matchAny|^tt.........|^tt.......|tt|.........|source=0309614|plain=false}}| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning| 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning}}{{#if: 0309614 {{#property:P345}} || Template:Preview warningTemplate:Main other }}{{#switch: Template:Wikidata

| Q21191270 | Q21664088 | Q50062923 | Q50914552 | Q99079902 | Q123186929 | Q55422400 | Q61220733 =Template:Preview warning | Q3464665 =Template:Preview warning }}{{#ifeq: Template:Wikidata | Q21191270 |Template:Preview warning }}{{#if: 0309614 | Template:WikidataCheck }}

[https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 11847918

 | title/{{#if: {{#invoke:ustring|match|1=11847918|2=^tt}}
   | Template:Trim/
   | tt11847918/
   }}
 | {{#if: {{#property:P345|from=}}
   | title/Template:First word/
   | find?q=%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D&s=tt
   }}
 }}{{#ifeq: {{#invoke:If any equal|main|Q618779|Q67325957|Q33999|value=Template:Wikidata}} | yes 
     | {{#switch: Template:Wikidata 
       | Q618779 
       | Q67325957  = awards Awards for
       | Q33999  = fullcredits Full cast and crew of
       }}
   | {{#if: Template:Wikidata 
     | {{#switch: Template:Wikidata
       | Q63032896 
       | Q66763446  = fullcredits Full cast and crew of
       | Q107974527 
       | Q482994  = soundtrack Soundtrack of
       }}
     }}
   }} Template:Trim] at {{#if: | IMDb | IMDb }}Template:EditAtWikidata{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb title with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | 3 | description | id | link_hide | qid | quotes | title }}{{#switch: {{#invoke:String2|matchAny|^tt.........|^tt.......|tt|.........|source=11847918|plain=false}}| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning| 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning}}{{#if: 11847918 {{#property:P345}} || Template:Preview warningTemplate:Main other }}{{#switch: Template:Wikidata

| Q21191270 | Q21664088 | Q50062923 | Q50914552 | Q99079902 | Q123186929 | Q55422400 | Q61220733 =Template:Preview warning | Q3464665 =Template:Preview warning }}{{#ifeq: Template:Wikidata | Q21191270 |Template:Preview warning }}{{#if: 11847918 | Template:WikidataCheck }} (cameo as himself)

BooksEdit

Template:Refbegin

Kevin Mitnick with Robert Vamosi, The Art of Invisibility, 2017, Hardback Template:ISBN
Kevin Mitnick and William L. Simon, Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker, 2011, Hardback Template:ISBN
Kevin Mitnick and William L. Simon, The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind The Exploits Of Hackers, Intruders, And Deceivers, 2005, Hardback Template:ISBN
Kevin Mitnick, The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security, 2002, Paperback Template:ISBN
Jeff Goodell, The Cyberthief and the Samurai: The True Story of Kevin Mitnick-And the Man Who Hunted Him Down, 1996, Template:ISBN
Tsutomu Shimomura, Takedown: The Pursuit and Capture of Kevin Mitnick, America's Most Wanted Computer Outlaw-By the Man Who Did It, 1996, Template:ISBN
Jonathan Littman, The Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick, 1996, Template:ISBN
Katie Hafner and John Markoff, CYBERPUNK – Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier, 1995, Template:ISBN