Kevin Mitnick, Sang Legenda Hacker

Kevin David Mitnick (born August 6, 1963) is a computer security consultant and convicted criminal who was a controversial computer hacker in the United States.

Mitnick was convicted in the late 1990s of illegally gaining access to computer networks and stealing intellectual property. Though Mitnick has been convicted of computer related crimes and possession of several forged identification documents, his supporters argue that his punishment was excessive. In his 2002 book, The Art of Deception, Mitnick states that he compromised computers solely by using passwords and codes that he gained by social engineering. It is notable that Mitnick did not use software programs or hacking tools for cracking passwords or otherwise exploiting computer or phone security.

Mitnick served five years in prison, of which four and a half years were pre-trial, and eight months were in solitary confinement.^[1] He was released on January 21,

2000. During his supervised release, which ended on January 21, 2003, he was initially restricted from using any communications technology other than a landline telephone. Mitnick fought this decision in court, and the judge ruled in his favor, allowing him to access the Internet.
Mitnick now runs Mitnick Security Consulting, a computer security consultancy.

^{Adrian Lamo, Kevin Mitnick, Kevin Poulsen}

Acts by Kevin Mitnick

• Using the Los Angeles bus transfer system to get free rides
• Evading the FBI
• Hacking into DEC system(s) to view VMS source code (DEC reportedly spent $160,000 in cleanup costs)
• Gaining full admin privileges to an IBM minicomputer at the Computer Learning Center in LA
  
• Hacking Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Sun Microsystems and Fujitsu Siemens systems

Alleged

• Stole computer manuals from a Pacific Bell telephone switching center in Los Angeles
• Read the e-mail of computer security officials at MCI Communications and Digital
• Wiretapped the California DMV
• Made free cell phone calls
• Hacked SCO, PacBell, FBI, Pentagon, Novell, CA DMV, USC and Los Angeles Unified School District systems.

Kevin Mitnick myths

• Hacked into NORAD
• "Theft of... at least 20,000 credit card numbers from computer systems around the nation"
• Ability to launch nuclear weapons by whistling into a payphone
• Issued a false press release for Security Pacific Bank causing a $400 million loss in market capitilization
• Changed a judge's TRW credit report
• Wiretapped FBI agents
• Turned off the utilities of an FBI agent
• Vandalized many government, corporate and university computer systems.
• Hacked into Tsutomu Shimomura's home computer
• Harassed actress Kristy McNichol
• Hacked Microsoft Redmond campus databases. Sumber : Wikipedia.org