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

Kevin Mitnick

Aug 2011 · Sold by Little, Brown

About this ebook

In this "intriguing, insightful and extremely educational" novel, the world's most famous hacker teaches you easy cloaking and counter-measures for citizens and consumers in the age of Big Brother and Big Data (Frank W. Abagnale).

Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world's biggest companies -- and no matter how fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. As the FBI's net finally began to tighten, Mitnick went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated game of hide-and-seek that escalated through false identities, a host of cities, and plenty of close shaves, to an ultimate showdown with the Feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.

Ghost in the Wires is a thrilling true story of intrigue, suspense, and unbelievable escapes -- and a portrait of a visionary who forced the authorities to rethink the way they pursued him, and forced companies to rethink the way they protect their most sensitive information.

"Mitnick manages to make breaking computer code sound as action-packed as robbing a bank." -- NPR

Ratings and reviews

There was a surprising amount of history and culture. Most of what took place predated my life so it was phenomenal to learn about phreaking and how things used to be. There were also quite a few pop-culture references that I had to google. I would find myself going down a rabbit hole about people he mentioned and even other book, movie, song titles, etc. I will be getting his other books without a doubt. I'm only sorry to have started to learn about him after his passing.

Kevin Mitnick has always been a hero of mine and his third book Ghost in the Wires tells the exciting, and true life of the worlds most wanted hacker in the late 1980's-1990's. Mitnick was extremely successful at breaking in to any place he wanted because of his great SE (Social-Engineering) skills. Mitnick shares his funny humor throughout each hack and it really is just crazy the excuses he would always come up with right on the spot. I find it to be the best security book I have ever read and I think it should be on every security professional's and IT Guy's required reading list. The things Kevin stole from companies could have put them all out of business, but thankfully he was never hacking to do damage to anyone. Mitnick also never profited from any of his hacks on these huge phone companies and software companies. The things Mitnick could accomplish were just mind-blowing. This book puts an end to the myths behind the worlds most wanted hacker, The Great Kevin Mitnick!

This is the BEST book I have ever read. It is fast paced, intriguing, technical, funny, one of a kind. I came away with 2 emotions. One) as an engineer I admired and was amazed at the things Kevin did, especially at the time he did it. He gives specific details that most people would forget. In a way he is a HERO to a technical person. He was so good at what he did he would have never been caught if he had not been turned in by his best friend and ex wife. 2) As a taxpayer i am appalled at the things he did, for so long without getting caught. He has cost everyone in america a fortune in FBI and police salaries, and the industry costs that the companies he targeted passed on to the consumer. You will not be disappointed in buying this book.

About the author

Kevin Mitnick has been the subject of countless profiles published and broadcast throughout the world. Mitnick's leading penetration-testing team is highly respected and sought after for its security services by the world's top corporations and governments. The company he founded, Mitnick Security Consulting LLC, has clients that include dozens from the Fortune 500 and many nations across the globe. Mitnick is the bestselling author of The Art of Invisibility, Ghost in the Wires, The Art of Intrusion, and The Art of Deception. He lives in Las Vegas and travels the world as the top keynote speaker on cybersecurity.