In an unfortunate turn of events, the notorious computer hacker from the 1990s, who was involved in high-profile cases of computer data theft and credit card number stealing, passed away due to pancreatic cancer.
When he was 16 years old, Mitnick started his career as a hacker by accessing unsecured networks without authorization.
In the 1980s, he set his sights on Digital Equipment Corporation’s computer system as his first target.
He was given a one-year jail term, followed by three years of supervised release by the court.
Unfortunately, he was apprehended again for hacking Pacific Bell’s voicemail systems towards the end of his previous release. This led to a warrant being issued for his arrest.
Hacking into cell phones and illegally copying software led to many prison terms for Mitnick, including eight months in solitary confinement.
In January 2000, Kevin completed his last prison sentence, which he jokingly referred to as a ‘vacation.’
Following this experience, he underwent a transformation and embarked on a new career path as a White Hat hacker and security consultant.
Kevin Mitnick later became a security evangelist and ‘Chief Hacking Officer’ at KnowBe4. Also, he wrote the following books with William L. Simon:
- The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders & Deceivers
- The Art of Deception
- The Art of Invisibility
He has taught Social Engineering to hundreds of businesses and government organizations, conducted penetration tests for some of the top firms in the world, and provided security consultancy for the Fortune 500.
Throughout his career, he has appeared as a special guest on a wide variety of radio and television shows, where he has provided insightful analysis on topics concerning information security.
In April, he unveiled a powerful password-cracking tool.