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
Kevin Mitnick quotes about
engineering able social
Both social engineering and technical attacks played a big part in what I was able to do. It was a hybrid. I used social engineering when it was appropriate, and exploited technical vulnerabilities when it was appropriate.
attachment engineering deception
Social engineering is using deception, manipulation and influence to convince a human who has access to a computer system to do something, like click on an attachment in an e-mail.
engineering keys information
The key to social engineering is influencing a person to do something that allows the hacker to gain access to information or your network.
engineering organization deception
Social engineering is using manipulation, influence and deception to get a person, a trusted insider within an organization, to comply with a request, and the request is usually to release information or to perform some sort of action item that benefits that attacker.
technology engineering bypass
Social engineering bypasses all technologies, including firewalls.
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.
access code secret source
Getting access to source code . . . was kind of like the secret ingredient. I wanted to know what the secret was.
allowed computers connect connecting net networks personal prevent programs sites
Use a personal firewall. Configure it to prevent other computers, networks and sites from connecting to you, and specify which programs are allowed to connect to the net automatically.
act blank government hacks interested patriot proved spy subtle terrorists total wants
The Patriot Act is ludicrous. Terrorists have proved that they are interested in total genocide, not subtle little hacks of the U.S. infrastructure, yet the government wants a blank search warrant to spy and snoop on everyone's communications.
controls either exploiting
Hacking is exploiting security controls either in a technical, physical or a human-based element.
finding learning love solving technology
I love solving puzzles, I love finding my way around obstacles, and I love learning new things about technology.
assume companies critical people proactive
Most people assume that once security software is installed, they're protected. This isn't the case. It's critical that companies be proactive in thinking about security on a long-term basis.
american-celebrity apparently appeal case code guy laptop major source witness worked
I'm an expert witness in a case that's in appeal about a guy who allegedly misappropriated source code from a major, major company - he actually worked there and then apparently they found it on his laptop later.
art credit legitimate living performance run
Being on the run wasn't fun, but it was something I had to do. I was actually working in legitimate jobs. I wasn't living on people's credit cards. I was living like a character out of a movie. It was performance art.