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Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker [Paperback]

Kevin Mitnick , Steve Wozniak , William L. Simon
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 24, 2012
Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world's biggest companies--and however fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. He spent years skipping through cyberspace, always three steps ahead and labeled unstoppable. But for Kevin, hacking wasn't just about technological feats-it was an old fashioned confidence game that required guile and deception to trick the unwitting out of valuable information.

Driven by a powerful urge to accomplish the impossible, Mitnick bypassed security systems and blazed into major organizations including Motorola, Sun Microsystems, and Pacific Bell. But as the FBI's net began to tighten, Kevin went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated cat and mouse game that led through false identities, a host of cities, plenty of close shaves, and an ultimate showdown with the Feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.

Ghost in the Wires is a thrilling true story of intrigue, suspense, and unbelievable escape, and a portrait of a visionary whose creativity, skills, and persistence forced the authorities to rethink the way they pursued him, inspiring ripples that brought permanent changes in the way people and companies protect their most sensitive information.

Frequently Bought Together

Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker + The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security + The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders and Deceivers
Price for all three: $35.02

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Considering the fact that Windows 95 hadn't even been released when federal agents finally caught up with the computer hacker Kevin Mitnick, one might assume his new memoir would be full of stale old tech-and-­techniques that no one in 2011 could possibly care about. But as Mitnick makes clear here, don't jump to conclusions.... Ghost in the Wires reads like a contemporary über-geeky thriller....For those interested in computer history, "Ghost in the Wires" is a nostalgia trip to the quaint old days before hacking (and hackers) turned so malicious and financially motivated." (New York Times Book Review J.D. Biersdorfer )

"Intriguing, insightful and extremely educational into the mind of one who truly mastered the art of social engineering with the use of a computer and modern day technologies. I strongly believe that one can learn a great deal about protecting themselves once they understand how another one perpetrates the crime." (Frank W. Abagnale, author of Catch Me if You Can )

"Reads like those of Frank Abagnale Jr. and Steven Jay Russell. But Mitnick's has a high-tech twist." (Booklist )

"It's the piquant human element that really animates this rollicking memoir of high-tech skullduggery....Mitnick's hacking narratives are lucid to neophytes and catnip to people who love code, but the book's heart is his 'social engineering' - his preternatural ability to schmooze and manipulate.....[a] nonstop caper." (Publisher's Weekly Publishers Weekly )

About the Author

Kevin Mitnick, the world's most famous (former) hacker, is now a security consultant. He has been the subject of countless news and magazine articles and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, offering expert commentary on information security, and he has testified before the United States Senate and written for Harvard Business Review. Mitnick is the author, with William L. Simon, of the bestselling books The Art of Deception and The Art of Intrusion. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Back Bay Books (April 24, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9780316037723
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316037723
  • ASIN: 0316037729
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Kevin Mitnick does a great job to tell his story. S. Gonzalez  |  15 reviewers made a similar statement
As others have said, it very much reads like a suspense novel at times. Stephan Filimonovich  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Read THE ART OF DECEPTION instead August 11, 2012
Format:Paperback
Mitnick's biography is interesting, but not a stellar read. It's written largely for a non-technical audience, and it does a good job of showing Mitnick's inability to stop hacking, if not an outright addiction to hacking. While it shows that he didn't hack out of malice or to make a profit, Mitnick is not a pure white hat hacker. But the hacking stories become repetitive over time, and it seems strange as to why he would continue to hack knowing that the police are getting ever closer to him while a fugitive. Also the book wraps up very quickly, glossing over his capture, trial, and imprisonment.

If you've read Mitnick's other book, "The Art of Deception," you're already familiar with Mitnick's ability with social engineering. And that book also offers tips on how to recognize and prevent such attempts. If you're deciding between books, I'd say go for "The Art of Deception."
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding story November 10, 2012
Format:Paperback
Kevin Mitnick does a great job to tell his story. Made me understand how easy it is to social engineer people.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read Kevin's prior books, and have waited for this one quite keenly. Many years ago I saw the DVD of Tsutomu's Take Down, then put the history of the affair in the back of my mind. Not being entierly ignorant of hacking issues - dabbling from just a bit past the time Kevin was active - I've found all three of Kevin's books compelling reading - and therefore wanted to hear Mr Mitnick's side of the story. I feel for the guy; he's had to wait so long before he could legally do so.

What happened to the alleged " Contempt" worm/virus that Tsutomu was so worried about? Does this mean I'll have to wade through his book so I can get his side of the story? After reading reviews of Take Down, the book, and the horrid reputation that the documentary "Freedom Downtime" (see on YouTube) gives it (along with Amazon reviews), I think I'll take my time before I read his side of the story - even if I get to doing so. Russell Wong did such a good job of painting Tsutomu as an arrogant, self-satisfied character, and clips of the man from "Freedom Downtime" don't paint a commendable picture of the guy either, or his book. He presents as a guy you wouldn't want to know too much about, in my humble opinion.

But this book is a stunner, an education, and a real page-turner. I read it in three hits in just over two days. I expect to be going back to it for reference material as well - and the book is redolent with it. This is a must-have book for those who are interested in the history and future of the Internet. We had so many freedoms, and are loosing them almost faster than they are learned. Keep ahead of the curve, folks. This books, and his other two, are goldmines. Free Kevin indeed; a mind like that languishing in some filthy prison is an obscenity. I think Dostoyevsky wrote "...you can aiways tell the strength of a country by the way it treats it's prisoners...".

Indeed.

A compelling, rewarding read worth every cent!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, even better expected
Just a brilliant thrill only a self told story Kevin can produce. Recommended for every hacker,social engineer or just about anyone who likes good action stories.
Published 4 days ago by Sancho
5.0 out of 5 stars INTERESTING, HIGH-TECH AND ACTION PACKED!
While Kevin Mitnick has been promoted as the "...most elusive computer break-in artist in history, " his book, "Ghost in the Wires" is actually more about phone phreaking (hacking... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Swubird
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read for any security professional
Ghost in the Wires gives a fast paced overview of the Kevin Mitnick saga. While it could easily be categorized as a history book, many of Mitnick's techniques are still just as... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chad Tilbury
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating story
If you want to understand what hacking is all about, and start at the beginning of it all, read this book! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stu Sjouwerman
4.0 out of 5 stars Good but dated.
Enjoyable read with some good details, but in the end just a good book, not a great one.

Fun remembering the old days of computers when a telephone modem was the cutting... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kimo
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read and real eye opener.
I received this book as a Christmas present and really enjoyed reading it. I was amazed at how much BS the media and legal profession spread about Kevin during the hunt/trial. Read more
Published 3 months ago by R. Blessing
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read
If you've had a love affair with computers since the z80 days then don't miss out on an awesome adventure with Kevin.
Published 4 months ago by Nick Mantalas
1.0 out of 5 stars Did not know him, now I know why
Saw the book at some friends home (I still have friends). "World's Most Wanted...", Thought to myself really? Someone else is stealing my title of the world's most wanted? Read more
Published 4 months ago by Osama Ladin
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Read
A good read - from start to finish. Something that would keep you on the edge of your seat. This was one of the few books which I have read from cover to cover in less than half of... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Angelo A. Anolin
4.0 out of 5 stars Riveting read but too exonerative of criminal behavior
It is truly thrilling to read this narrative of how Mitnik manipulated people and computers to steal software from big companies using stolen minutes from peoples' cell phones as... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Alina
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