Kevin Mitnick
Kevin Mitnick
Kevin David Mitnickis an American computer security consultant, author and hacker, best known for his high-profile 1995 arrest and later five years in prison for various computer and communications-related crimes...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusinessman
Date of Birth6 August 1963
CountryUnited States of America
access computer defend extremely key spear technique
Most of the computer compromises that we hear about use a technique called spear phishing, which allows an attacker access to a key person's workstation. It's extremely difficult to defend against.
access attempt call calling changing class favorite fellow gaining home input message pay pranks received switch telephone telling
One of my all-time favorite pranks was gaining unauthorized access to the telephone switch and changing the class of service of a fellow phone phreak. When he'd attempt to make a call from home, he'd get a message telling him to deposit a dime, because the telephone company switch received input that indicated he was calling from a pay phone.
access code computer exploring hacking involved obtaining operating source systems within
My hacking involved pretty much exploring computer systems and obtaining access to the source code of telecommunication systems and computer operating systems, because my goal was to learn all I can about security vulnerabilities within these systems.
access account address companies computer contain devices dollars link measures millions money none operate people protected secure systems wasted weakest
Companies spend millions of dollars on firewalls, encryption, and secure access devices and it's money wasted because none of these measures address the weakest link in the security chain: the people who use, administer, operate and account for computer systems that contain protected information.
access computer environment exploit gain global hostile planet protecting sensitive side weaknesses
Protecting yourself is very challenging in the hostile environment of the Internet. Imagine a global environment where an unscrupulous person from the other side of the planet can probe your computer for weaknesses and exploit them to gain access to your most sensitive secrets.
access code secret source
Getting access to source code . . . was kind of like the secret ingredient. I wanted to know what the secret was.
books books-and-reading case criminal dealing higher information priorities time
At the time the books were released, I was in custody, so I had higher priorities - dealing with my criminal case - than dealing with litigation. There's a lot of information out there that is inaccurate.
companies needed spend train walls
A lot of companies are clueless, because they spend most or all of their security budget on high-tech security like fire walls and biometric authentication - which are important and needed - but then they don't train their people.
businesses deployed detection devices happens products secure site smaller standard stronger system
What happens with smaller businesses is that they give in to the misconception that their site is secure because the system administrator deployed standard security products - firewalls, intrusion detection systems, or stronger authentication devices such as time-based tokens or biometric smart cards. But those things can be exploited.
certain companies found kid phone quite throughout united
I don't know the capabilities of our enemies. But I found it quite easy to circumvent security at certain phone companies throughout the United States. So if an inquisitive kid can do it, why can't a cyberterrorist do it?
asks favor involving somebody verify
When somebody asks for a favor involving information, if you don't know him or can't verify his identity, just say no.
The Internet is like the phone. To be without it is ridiculous.
Not being allowed to use the Internet is kind of like not being allowed to use a telephone.
hacking hooked
I was hooked in before hacking was even illegal.