Legendary Computer Hacker Kevin Mitnick Dies at 59
Kevin Mitnick, a name synonymous with hacking and cybersecurity, has sadly passed away at the age of 59 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. His family announced his death in a published obituary over the weekend.
Before his passing on July 16, Mitnick had become a legendary figure in the world of hacking, inspiring multiple films based on his exploits. The 1983 movie “WarGames,” starring Matthew Broderick, drew partial inspiration from allegations that Mitnick successfully hacked into the computer systems of the North American Aerospace Defense Command as a teenager, a claim he consistently denied.
Mitnick’s restless curiosity led to his arrest in 1988 for stealing $1 million worth of proprietary software from Digital Equipment Corporation. He was subsequently sentenced to a year in prison and three years of probation. However, in 1995, he faced a new arrest warrant for violating that probation. Opting to go on the run, Mitnick embarked on a series of hacking escapades, infiltrating the computer systems of various corporations, cell phone companies, and educational institutions, as per the federal indictment against him.
Throughout his hacking journey, Mitnick and his supporters maintained that he harboured no malicious intent and did not seek financial gain. According to him, his actions were driven purely by intellectual curiosity. Yet, federal authorities were deeply concerned about his capabilities, leading to his time in solitary confinement during incarceration in 1995, as they feared his proximity to a telephone could enable continued hacking.
In 1999, Mitnick reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, pleading guilty to seven criminal counts, including wire fraud and causing damage to computers. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison and faced probation, with a prohibition from being employed in any capacity that would grant him access to computers or computer-related equipment or software. He was released in 2000, having received credit for time served.
In 2011, Mitnick published a memoir titled “Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker,” recounting his hacking career.
After serving his prison term, Mitnick transformed into a white-hat hacker, using his expertise legally to assist businesses in protecting their systems from cyber threats. For the last decade, he held the position of Chief Hacking Officer and partial owner of the tech security firm KnowBe4, a company he co-founded with his close friend Stu Sjouwerman.
Mitnick’s impact on the cybersecurity industry was immeasurable, and he will be sorely missed by the KnowBe4 team. Stu Sjouwerman expressed his grief, saying, “Kevin was a dear friend to me and many of us here at KnowBe4. He is truly a luminary in the development of the cybersecurity industry, but mostly, Kevin was just a wonderful human being, and he will be dearly missed.”
A memorial for Kevin Mitnick is scheduled to take place on August 1 in Las Vegas, according to the statement released by his company. He leaves behind his wife Kimberley, who is expecting their first child, as per the family’s announcement.
