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Kevin Mitnick was an American computer security consultant, author, and convicted hacker who died of pancreatic cancer on July 16, 2023 at the age of 59. He was best known for his high-profile 1995 arrest and five years in prison for various computer and communications-related crimes. He later became a successful security consultant, writer, and public speaker.
Net worth and income
Mitnick’s net worth and income are not publicly available, but he was reportedly paid up to $100,000 per speaking engagement and charged $40,000 per day for his security consulting services. He also earned royalties from his books, such as The Art of Deception, The Art of Intrusion, and Ghost in the Wires. He was the Chief Hacking Officer and part owner of the security awareness training company KnowBe4, as well as an active advisory board member at Zimperium, a firm that develops a mobile intrusion prevention system.
Career
Mitnick started hacking at the age of 12, when he used a bus ticket punch to ride any bus in Los Angeles for free. He later hacked into the computer network of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and copied their software, for which he was arrested and sentenced to 12 months in prison in 1988. He also hacked into Pacific Bell voicemail computers and fled from the authorities, becoming a fugitive for two-and-a-half years.
During his time on the run, Mitnick gained unauthorized access to dozens of computer networks, including those of Motorola, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Novell, and the Pentagon. He also used social engineering techniques to manipulate people into giving him information or access. He was eventually tracked down by Tsutomu Shimomura, a cybersecurity expert whose computer had been hacked by Mitnick. He was arrested by the FBI in 1995 in North Carolina and pleaded guilty to several counts of wire fraud and other cybercrimes in 1999. He was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of probation.
After his release in 2000, Mitnick reinvented himself as a security consultant, author, and public speaker. He founded Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC, a firm that offered penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and security training services. He also wrote several books about his hacking exploits and experiences, as well as how to protect oneself from cyberattacks. He appeared on various media outlets and events to share his insights and opinions on cybersecurity issues. He also testified before the U.S. Senate on computer security matters.
Mitnick was widely regarded as one of the most famous hackers in history and a pioneer of the hacker culture. He had a large fan base who admired his skills and supported his cause. He also faced criticism from some who accused him of being a criminal, a terrorist, or a narcissist. He claimed that his motivation for hacking was not money or malice, but curiosity, challenge, thrill, and escape from reality.
Personal life
Mitnick was born on August 6, 1963 in Van Nuys, California. He grew up in Los Angeles and attended James Monroe High School in North Hills. He became an amateur radio operator and chose the nickname “Condor” after watching the movie Three Days of the Condor. He later enrolled at Los Angeles Pierce College and USC.
Mitnick was married twice and divorced twice. His first wife was Bonnie Vitello, whom he married in 1987 and divorced in 1990. His second wife was Jennifer Granick, whom he married in 1998 and divorced in 2003. He had no children.
Mitnick died on July 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada after battling pancreatic cancer for several months. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Conclusion
Kevin Mitnick was a controversial figure who left a lasting impact on the world of cybersecurity. He was both admired and despised for his hacking exploits and his transformation from a fugitive to a consultant. He was one of the most influential hackers of all time and a legend in the hacker community.
Most asked questions and answers
Q: What did Kevin Mitnick hack?
A: Kevin Mitnick hacked into various computer networks belonging to companies such as Motorola, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Novell, DEC, as well as government agencies such as the Pentagon.
Q: How did Kevin Mitnick get caught?
A: Kevin Mitnick was caught by Tsutomu Shimomura, a cybersecurity expert whose computer had been hacked by Mitnick. Shimomura traced Mitnick’s location using cellular phone signals and alerted the FBI.
Q: How long did Kevin Mitnick spend in prison?
A: Kevin Mitnick spent a total of five years in prison for his hacking crimes. He served one year in prison from 1988 to 1989 for hacking into DEC’s network, and four years in prison from 1995 to 2000 for his other hacking offenses.
Q: What did Kevin Mitnick do after prison?
A: Kevin Mitnick became a security consultant, author, and public speaker after his release from prison. He founded Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC, a firm that offered security services to clients. He also wrote several books about his hacking adventures and how to defend against cyberattacks. He also appeared on various media outlets and events to share his expertise and views on cybersecurity issues.
Q: How did Kevin Mitnick die?
A: Kevin Mitnick died of pancreatic cancer on July 16, 2023 at the age of 59. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Q: How much was Kevin Mitnick worth?
A: Kevin Mitnick’s net worth and income are not publicly available, but he was reportedly paid up to $100,000 per speaking engagement and charged $40,000 per day for his security consulting services. He also earned royalties from his books and had a stake in KnowBe4, a security awareness training company.
Q: Was Kevin Mitnick married?
A: Kevin Mitnick was married twice and divorced twice. His first wife was Bonnie Vitello, whom he married in 1987 and divorced in 1990. His second wife was Jennifer Granick, whom he married in 1998 and divorced in 2003. He had no children.
Q: What was Kevin Mitnick’s nickname?
A: Kevin Mitnick’s nickname was “Condor”, which he chose after watching the movie Three Days of the Condor. He also used other aliases such as “The Darkside Hacker” and “Eric Weiss”.
Q: What books did Kevin Mitnick write?
A: Kevin Mitnick wrote several books about his hacking exploits and experiences, as well as how to protect oneself from cyberattacks. Some of his books are:
- The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security (2002)
- The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders and Deceivers (2005)
- Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker (2011)
- The Art of Invisibility: The World’s Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data (2017)
Q: What was Kevin Mitnick’s motto?
A: Kevin Mitnick’s motto was “Think like a hacker”. He believed that the best way to defend against cyberattacks was to understand how hackers think and operate. He also advocated for ethical hacking and responsible disclosure of security vulnerabilities.