Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker

Kevin Mitnick

Aug 2011 · Blackstone Audio Inc. · Narrated by Ray Porter

About this audiobook

Kevin Mitnick, the world’s most wanted computer hacker, managed to hack into some of the country’s most powerful—and seemingly impenetrable—agencies and companies. By conning employees into giving him private information and maneuvering through layers of security, he gained access to data that no one else could.

The suspenseful heart of the book unfolds as Mitnick disappears on a three-year run from the FBI. He creates fake identities, finds jobs at a law firm and hospital, and keeps tabs on his myriad pursuers—all while continuing to hack into computer systems and phone company switches that were considered flawless.

A modern, technology-driven adventure story, Ghost in the Wires is a dramatic account of the joy of outsmarting security programs, the satisfaction of code cracking, and the thrill of unbelievable escape.

Ratings and reviews

I have been in IT for well over 20 years, and am now in Cybersecurity for a very large organization. I am not a "reader" so I decided to to try this book out in audio book form, and I couldn't turn it off! Following Kevin's life was more exhilarating than I could have imaged. It was technical enough for those of us that understand these things, but also at a level that my 13 year old daughter got sucked into. She doesn't like audio books, so I purchased a hard copy and she it starting to read it now. I have to say, that this is by far both the best technology book I have read, but is also a great teaching tool. This should be required learning in every school in the world!

I really enjoyed this book. Well written and wonderfully read. Kevin's story is full of twists and more than a little suspense. Recommended. We miss you Kevin!

Truly riveting from beginning to end. I was on the edge of my seat to the very least chapter and looking forward to my commute just so I could get a fix of this brilliant, and true life, thriller!

About the author

Kevin Mitnick, as the world’s most famous hacker, has been the subject of countless news and magazine articles published throughout the world. He has made guest appearances on numerous television and radio programs, offering expert commentary on issues related to information security. His leading penetration-testing team is highly respected and sought after for their security services to the world’s top corporations and governments through the company he founded, Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC. His clients include dozens of the Fortune 500 and world governments. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ghost in the Wires, as well as several other books.

William L. Simon is the author of numerous books, including iCon: Steve Jobs and Ghost in the Wires, both New York Times and international bestsellers. He has also written for USA Today and the Washington Post and been interviewed on CNBC, CNN, NPR and by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Time, Newsweek, and many other publications.

Ray Porter is a prolific voice actor that has recorded for over 100 audio books and dozens of television series, video games and video shorts. Among his wide variety of audiobook credits are The Silver Linings Playbook, The Black Hole War, and the Joe Ledger series. He claims, “With every book I’ve done, I have found that the author has a voice and if I can just do my best to stay out of the way of that voice, then the writer will convey what he’s trying to put across. So for me, it’s really more about enabling the text and what the author is trying to say.”

Steve Wozniak has been inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Technology and the Heinz Award. He lives in California.