Kevin Mitnick was a name that aroused both dread and intrigue in the field of cyber security. He was one of the most sought computer criminals in the US in the 1990s due to his impressive hacking abilities. But on a more somber note, we regret to inform you that Kevin Mitnick, 59, has lost his valiant fight against pancreatic cancer. He passed away at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, according to a statement from the Las Vegas funeral home and the cyber security training organization KnowBe4.
The passing of Kevin Mitnick heralds the end of an era in the field of cyber security. After overcoming a difficult past, he reinvented himself into a renowned security expert, author, and captivating public speaker, winning respect from colleagues in the field.
Mitnick planned a terrible crime wave in the 1990s that left a trail of credit card numbers and data files from numerous computers all over the country. His exceptional abilities allowed him to hack into government, business, and academic computer systems as well as the phone and cell networks across the nation. He was declared the "most wanted" computer hacker in the world for his daring crimes, and the pursuit of his prosecution captured the attention of people all across the globe.
The FBI finally located Mitnick in 1995, after a ferocious two-year chase, and filed charges against him for computer fraud and unauthorized use of a telephone access device. He allegedly had access to business trade secrets worth millions of dollars, according to Kent Walker, a former assistant US attorney in San Francisco. He posed a serious threat. An important turning point in Mitnick's life, the arrest paved the way for his reformation.
In an effort to raise awareness of his cause while he was serving his term in 1999, a group of his supporters managed to briefly take control of The New York Times website. A year later, he chose to accept a plea agreement with the prosecution and pleaded guilty to wire and computer fraud. The agreement resulted in a 46-month prison sentence and three years of probation, during which time he was not permitted to use a smartphone or computer without authorization.
Early on, Mitnick began his voyage into the realm of hacking. He was raised by divorced parents as an only kid in Los Angeles and had early talent in his love of magic tricks. He mastered throwing punch cards and tickets to get free bus rides by the time he was 12 years old. Later, his interest in the intricate operation of telephone connections and systems led him down the route of hacking business computer systems.
Mitnick refuted many of the accusations made against him in his autobiography, "Ghost in the Wires," including the idea that he had hacked into government computer networks. In addition, he insisted that he never used credit card information obtained as a result of his attacks, likening his hacking work to the game of chess, in which winning over your opponent is enough to demonstrate your skill.
The impact of Kevin Mitnick goes far beyond the fields of hacking and cyber security. His wife Kimberly Mitnick, who is currently giving birth to their first child as evidence of the new life he is embracing, is his sole surviving family member.
