The Fugitive Game: Online With Kevin Mitnick [Hardcover]

Jonathan Littman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

Kevin David Mitnick was cyberspace's most wanted hacker. Mitnick could launch missiles or cripple the world's financial markets with a single phone call - or so went the myth. The FBI, phone companies, bounty hunters and even fellow hackers pursued him over the Internet and through cellular airways. But while Mitnick's alleged crimes have been widely publicized, his story has never been told. This book looks into the mind of the serial hacker. Drawing on over 50 hours of telephone conversations with Mitnick on the run, this book reveals Mitnick's double life; his narrow escapes; his new identities; complete with college degrees of his choosing; his hacking techniques and mastery of "social engineering"; and his obsession with revenge. Mitnick's story begins in Hollywood when a sadomasochistic FBI informant entices Mitnick with the ultimate hacker tool: the power to wiretrap anybody, anywhere, anytime. While fleeing from the FBI, Mitnick became a legendary outlaw and his alleged crimes landed him on the front page of the "New York Times" twice. When the FBI proved incapable of capturing him, Tsutomu Shinomura, a Japanese security expert, set out to nab the hacker in the name of honour. This book not only reads like a spy thriller, but raises questions about Internet security and tensions between constitutional rights of privacy and law enforcement. Did corporations, members of the media and law enforcement use illegal or unconstitutional means to capture Mitnick, as he alleges? And why was Mitnick, who allegedly stole thousands of credit cards, found living in a modest apartment, working at a regular job? Drawing on extensive interviews with Mitnick and a host of new facts, this book uncovers the true story behind the 20th century's most dramatic electronic chase.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Jonathan Littman takes us into the mind of Kevin Mitnick, cyberspace's most wanted hacker. Drawing on over fifty hours of phone conversations with Mitnick on the run, Littman reveals Mitnick's double life; his narrow escapes; his new identities; his mastery of "social engineering"; his obsession with revenge. The electronic adventure story that emerges reads like a spy thriller, but also raises questions about Internet security and tensions between constitutional rights of privacy and law enforcement. A good companion piece to the other side of the story, Tsutomu Shimomura's book Takedown.

From Library Journal

Computer security expert Shimomura gained instant celebrity with his highly publicized capture of Kevin Mitnick, a notorious computer hacker who allegedly plundered the Internet at will, stealing files and information from computer systems throughout the world. Markoff, a new breed of cyberspace journalist, was the sole reporter present when Mitnick was arrested, invited by Shimomura to cover the bust. Markoff's account of this story first appeared on the front page of the New York Times on February 16, 1995, the day after the bust. Markoff and Shimomura were friends, and Markoff's previous book, Cyberpunk (LJ 6/1/91), devoted a third of its content to the nefarious Mitnick. Takedown is a riveting account of the investigation and capture of a skilled hacker by a brilliant cybersleuth. Littman, an investigative reporter, has also written a compelling narrative of the Mitnick case. In contrast to Takedown, Littman captures Mitnick's side of the story. He focuses on Mitnick's motives and ambitions, drawing on personal conversations and correspondence with the world-class hacker while he was still a fugitive. Littman alleges questionable motives on the part of Shimomura and Markoff as they tread the murky water of journalistic ethics surrounding book advances, movie deals, talk-show appearances, and speaking fees. He exposes a conflict of interest raised by the financial rewards Shimomura and Markoff received by cooperating with the FBI, and asserts that the ensuing publicity over Internet security and the need for tougher laws distracted us from the real issue of a constitutional right to privacy on the information superhighway. Most libraries should have both The Fugitive Game and Takedown.
--Joe Accardi, Northeastern Illlinois Univ. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 383 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T); 1 edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316528587
• ISBN-13: 978-0316528580
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Culture > Biographies
  • #97 in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Culture > Hacking

More About the Author

Jonathan Littman is the author of The Fugitive Game and The Watchman and is a contributing writer for Red Herring magazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As unbiased an account as you'll ever find., September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fugitive Game: Online With Kevin Mitnick (Hardcover)

I just finished reading this book and I must say that it was a real eye-opener. Over the past two weeks, I've read both Cyberpunk and Takedown. On their own, they seem to be pretty straightforward accounts of the tracking and capture of Mitnick. After finishing The Fugitive Game, I now realize how biased and self-serving both books really are.

First of all, this is by far the most informative and interesting of the three works, and aside from the very insightful dialogue of fugitive Mitnick, Littman poses a number of intriguing questions glossed over by the mainstream "press" and which could never be addressed in the other two books:

What was Shimomura's real relationship with Lottor, an ex-hacker and former roommate of Poulsen? Why were the two working together to disassemble cell phone software? What practical application could this possibly have, other than for illegal ESN cloning and eavesdropping? Was Shimomura being covertly employed by the NSA, Air Force, or some other government agency? Why is Shimomura considered a top-notch "security expert" when his computers were systematically violated over the course of many months? Why do Shimomura and the FBI insist that certain valuable applications were being stolen from Shimomura's computer, when at least some of these same programs are freely available on the internet? Why was Markoff permitted to write (uncorrected, in the NY Times) that just before he was caught, Mitnick had attempted to destroy an entire ISP, when in fact the damage was restricted to erasing only a small portion of one backup tape?

Two people benefitted most from the hype surrounding the arrest and criminalization of Mitnick: Shimomura and Markoff. Much of Mitnicks' "crimes" were nothing more than unsubstantiated accusations. Yet the two detectives managed to parlay the bust into a $750k book advance, movie rights, fame, etc., at the expense of Markoff's journalistic integrity.

This book is a must read for anyone looking for an honest account of events, free from self-serving rhetoric of Shimomura and Markoff, and the biases of the mainsteam media.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Factual Presentation of The Story, June 5, 2001

By 

"vort1" (SoCal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick (Paperback)

I became interested in Kevin Poulson and Kevin Mitnick after reading several articles about his exploits. After learning about this new book from Jonathan Littman, I emailed the author for sources of more information. He (of course) advised that I purchase his two books on The Kevins: 1) "The Fugitive Game: Online With Kevin Mitnick", and 2) "The Watchman: The Twisted Life and Crimes of Serial Hacker Kevin Poulsen". I ordered the two books, along with "Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier" by John Markoff and Katie Hafner.

I read Jonathan Littman's two books first, and was very excited with the stories, and his factual presentation. His writing style is an excellent fit for the type of story he is telling. It was obvious that Littman researched the facts and presented them in an unbiased manner. I liked that he presented both the technical information and the human elements of the stories. I also liked that he exposed many myths and controversy regarding the players in the stories, like John Markoff's getting involved in the chase for Mitnick, crossing the ethical boundary between journalism and law enforcement.

I then read "Cyberpunk" by Markoff and Hafner. Boy, what a difference! Where Littman was factual, Markoff was more into storytelling. I cannot say who's right (I wasn't THERE), but Markoff just didn't come across as complete and factual, especially in light of Littman's comments on his questionable involvement in Mitnick's capture. I did, however, love Markoff's telling of the rtm story (Robert Tappan Morris - the sendmail internet worm guy). I'd give this book 3 stars.

I'd like to take a moment to comment on some other reviews that I think are unfair or inaccurate.

Regarding "The Watchman":

"Big Letdown" stated that there was too much technical information. I completely disagree. It's true that I personally enjoyed the technical details, but I also felt it was important insight into a hacker's curiosity response to forbidden systems. "Hmmm...Perhaps Jonathan should have done more research" stated that Littman didn't give Poulsen a chance, and made him out to be a monster. I wonder if we read the same book? I did not get the impression that Poulsen was a monster of any kind, just a kid addicted to the power and thrills of having absolute control over other people's forbidden systems. On the contrary, I think Littman did a professional, accurate, and entertaining presentation of the story and it's facts.

Regarding "The Fugitive Game":

"lots of clumsy writing here" stated that Littman tried to make Mitnick out to be a hero. Again, I have to wonder if we read the same book. Littman did no such thing. In fact, Littman "de-heroed" other characters that John Markoff pumped up in his telling of events. From reading the above-mentioned three books, Littman comes across as MUCH more factual. "Not Very good" stated that the story was boring, and to get other books like the Cuckoo's Egg, and maybe even At Large. The book was far from boring, but I'd have to agree that "The Watchman" was better (I give "The Fugitive Game" 4 stars, "The Watchman" 5 stars.) I guess I'll have to check out "Cuckoo's Egg" and "At Large" - at least the reviewer made alternative recommendations, which I thank him/her for.

Finally, to help the reader of this review judge how relevant my opinion is, I'll tell you where I'm coming from. I consider myself to be very technical. I really got started with computers back in 1978, about the same time these guys were getting going. I went through many of the same "phases" these hackers went through. I did things to computers that weren't supposed to be done - and got caught a couple times (ahh, the old days...) So I think I'm qualified to judge a "real" story. All three books were nostalgic for me, but Littman's were the most accurate, I think. In my opinion, he described what it was REALLY like: the curiosity, the intensity, the excitement of discovery, the thrill of the hunt, and the addiction of absolute control.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars read this book .., March 21, 2000

By 

G. MCPHERSON - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fugitive Game: Online with Kevin Mitnick (Paperback)

if you're looking for a revealing account of the "mitnick" story this is it. while littman was researching another hacker, kevin poulsen for his upcoming book The Watchman, he stumbled across mitnick. mitnick and littman form a relationship. mitnick contacts littman from time to time, whether by pay-phone or by hacking into liftman's email account. what makes this book unique from any other is mitnick's account as written by littman of the FBI's pursuit <at the time mitnick was on the FBI's most wanted list>.

the story that littman brings the reader in The Fugitive Game is a thorough account of mitnick's humble beginnings from begging radio shack employees to let him use store computers after closing to his hacking of the world most powerful companies.

a book well written .. fast paced, fun to read.