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The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security Paperback – October 17, 2003

by Kevin D. Mitnick (Author), William L. Simon (Author), Steve Wozniak (Foreword)

212 customer reviews

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The world's most infamous hacker offers an insider's view of the low-tech threats to high-tech security
Kevin Mitnick's exploits as a cyber-desperado and fugitive form one of the most exhaustive FBI manhunts in history and have spawned dozens of articles, books, films, and documentaries. Since his release from federal prison, in 1998, Mitnick has turned his life around and established himself as one of the most sought-after computer security experts worldwide. Now, in The Art of Deception, the world's most notorious hacker gives new meaning to the old adage, "It takes a thief to catch a thief."
Focusing on the human factors involved with information security, Mitnick explains why all the firewalls and encryption protocols in the world will never be enough to stop a savvy grifter intent on rifling a corporate database or an irate employee determined to crash a system. With the help of many fascinating true stories of successful attacks on business and government, he illustrates just how susceptible even the most locked-down information systems are to a slick con artist impersonating an IRS agent. Narrating from the points of view of both the attacker and the victims, he explains why each attack was so successful and how it could have been prevented in an engaging and highly readable style reminiscent of a true-crime novel. And, perhaps most importantly, Mitnick offers advice for preventing these types of social engineering hacks through security protocols, training programs, and manuals that address the human element of security.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Art of Deception is about gaining someone's trust by lying to them and then abusing that trust for fun and profit. Hackers use the euphemism "social engineering" and hacker-guru Kevin Mitnick examines many example scenarios.

After Mitnick's first dozen examples anyone responsible for organizational security is going to lose the will to live. It's been said before, but people and security are antithetical. Organizations exist to provide a good or service and want helpful, friendly employees to promote the good or service. People are social animals who want to be liked. Controlling the human aspects of security means denying someone something. This circle can't be squared.

Considering Mitnick's reputation as a hacker guru, it's ironic that the last point of attack for hackers using social engineering are computers. Most of the scenarios in The Art of Deception work just as well against computer-free organizations and were probably known to the Phoenicians; technology simply makes it all easier. Phones are faster than letters, after all, and having large organizations means dealing with lots of strangers.

Much of Mitnick's security advice sounds practical until you think about implementation, when you realize that more effective security means reducing organizational efficiency--an impossible trade in competitive business. And anyway, who wants to work in an organization where the rule is "Trust no one"? Mitnick shows how easily security is breached by trust, but without trust people can't live and work together. In the real world, effective organizations have to acknowledge that total security is a chimera--and carry more insurance. --Steve Patient, amazon.co.uk --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Mitnick is the most famous computer hacker in the world. Since his first arrest in 1981, at age 17, he has spent nearly half his adult life either in prison or as a fugitive. He has been the subject of three books and his alleged 1982 hack into NORAD inspired the movie War Games. Since his plea-bargain release in 2000, he says he has reformed and is devoting his talents to helping computer security. It's not clear whether this book is a means toward that end or a, wink-wink, fictionalized account of his exploits, with his name changed to protect his parole terms. Either way, it's a tour de force, a series of tales of how some old-fashioned blarney and high-tech skills can pry any information from anyone. As entertainment, it's like reading the climaxes of a dozen complex thrillers, one after the other. As a security education, it's a great series of cautionary tales; however, the advice to employees not to give anyone their passwords is bland compared to the depth and energy of Mitnick's descriptions of how he actually hacked into systems. As a manual for a would-be hacker, it's dated and nonspecific better stuff is available on the Internet but it teaches the timeless spirit of the hack. Between the lines, a portrait emerges of the old-fashioned hacker stereotype: a socially challenged, obsessive loser addicted to an intoxicating sense of power that comes only from stalking and spying.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product details

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 17, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 076454280X
ISBN-13: 978-0764542800
Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1 x 8.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 212 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10 in Books > Computers & Technology > Certification > CompTIA
- #24 in Books > Computers & Technology > Networking & Cloud Computing > Network Security
- #33 in Books > Computers & Technology > Internet & Social Media > Hacking

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Top customer reviews

Social Engineering 101 - Highly Recommended

ByC. HillHALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERon August 25, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

"The Art of Deception" was recommended to me by an instructor teaching a CISSP prep class. It is both an enjoyable and informative read. Mitnik is the "real deal" in exploiting social engineering techniques and his books should be required reading by corporate security policy makers (and I am sure it is for many already).

This book illustrates various techniques for bypassing established corporate physical and information security security policies. I have actually inadvertently used some of these techniques when troubleshooting network issues or having forgotten my passcard to gain access to systems and rooms. It is often easier to bypass the rules than to go through the steps needed to obtain proper access and people are surprisingly willing to cooperate "just this one time".

This book will help you sensitize your employees to the risks of bypassing security policy and recognize when this might be occurring.

Highly recommended!

CFH

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Speaks volumes on social engineering/makes you think!

ByEon November 17, 2002

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

After reading it, the book makes one more aware of what to be careful when giving out information of any kind and how to protect yourself and your company's assets. I've heard alot of "Don't ever give out your id/password", "Always have firewalls on your network." One hardly ever hears about 'make sure you're giving information to someone who's supposed to have it'. There's tons of books on security with respect to technology but this is the first one I've seen that actually focuses on the weakest link when it comes to security - the human element.
All the firewalls and software can't prevent a social engineer from getting in if he/she knows justs how to act and/or what to say to get what they want. Reading the scenarios really opened my eyes. Theres a scenario where a social engineer pretended to be a manager of a video store. After enough talking to another employee at another branch, the social engineer was able to get enough information to obtain the credit card # of someone who owed money to the client the social engineer was hired by.
In reading the scenarios, I'd seen examples where I'd asked for the type of information described for perfectly legitimate reasons. I'd never imagined how someone could take just 1 or 2 pieces of information and create chaos for a person or a company. If you're in the IT industry, or work in any kind of customer service, you really need to pick up this book. This book doesn't bash people for being as helpful as they can be (team player, etc). He's just saying to be more aware of what's going on and when giving out any kind of information, being a little cautious doesn't hurt. As humans, we're not perfect to begin with, but a little awareness will make it just a little harder for that social engineer to get what they want.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Two Stars

ByReza Qinon August 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Ghost in the Wires is way better and ruins this book if read after.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Great stories to read as well as scope given in Kev's book

ByAmazon Customeron February 9, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Very comprehensive and informational, Kevin knows his security and its scary in one respect that systems all have some way of being broken afterall they were designed by humans. I like how its written its captivating and uses lots of story lines to back up the topics of the book.

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Five Stars

ByTY FARRELLon June 29, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

great book

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An interesting look at security's weak link

ByJ. J. KwashnakVINE VOICEon March 30, 2003

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Kevin Mitnick has been arguably the most famous computer hacker out there. His story has been told by others in several books. But here Mitnick is not trying to really share his experiences - rather he calls upon his collection of acquaintances and others he knows to illustrate how people can be engineered. Most of the book is essentially a series of stories of social engineering (getting someone to do what you want without their realizing it) and then some superficial analysis of why it worked. He then tries to synthesize his earlier chapters into a set of practical security precautions, many of which are common sense, and most of which the reader would have already figured out from reading the book. The stories he chooses to share are fairly interesting, both in their daring and setup and in their simplicity. What this book would be best for would be handing it to a corporate manager and allow him or her a wake up call as to security. As we try to work together, have things automated and available on-line and as our organizations grow the catchword is results, even if you have to bend the rules a bit. This is what the social engineer can exploit. Many of the stories skate along the edge of the law, and Mitnick points out when it would cross into illegal. While interesting, after a while the book becomes more tedious in structure and what is being said. Still it is very accessible and would be a great book for someone not so familiar with computers and hacking to see how some of it is done. It should serve as a wake-up call for management as to some of the dangers we face every day. And while most of the stories presented are more in the spirit of curiosity, or fun, or revenge, it would be easy to take them up a notch into activities with serious corporate impact.

0Comment 10 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

I'm truly in awe.

ByKyle Con November 23, 2002

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is the first book that I've read from cover to cover in close to 7 years. I could not put it down! Read it in 2 weeks, taking notes, evaluating the way I responded to calls at my companies help desk, reviewing some of the links mentioned in the book, etc., etc.,etc. This is one book that if you read it you will have the ability to better defend and better compromise anything and anyone, but if you don't read it you will eventually regret it because there is a wealth of information that I haven't found anywhere else. There are popular web links mentioned that I was shocked to find were still valid. The detail and instruction are immaculate and if you don't read it....simply put you are a foolish morron. Headlines should read, "Mitnick does it again with a simple Mitnick Message!". Kevin, you inspire me and I wish I had your knowledge and influence.

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A bit dated, but much is still relevant

ByGodzillaon March 16, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Picked up this one to read about Social Engineering from a guy who used to wear a black hat. since it was written over 12 years ago, some of the technical stuff is not quite accurate, but the types of cons presented here in story from could still happen.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Most recent customer reviews

Three Stars

OK read.

Published 27 days ago by Ben B.

Outdated and overwritten

This book is getting more and more out of date every year. It references Windows 98, fax machines, and other things rarely used in today's workplaces.Read more

Published 4 months ago by G. Rhodes

Five Stars

No problems

Published 6 months ago by David M Howard

Five Stars

Excellent read.

Published 6 months ago by jan_987

An intresting read

Subject matter rich if this is your field then this book is spot on

Published 6 months ago by John

not sure aobut this one

Just could not get into this book and stopped reading it.

Published 7 months ago by Donald D. Farra

Educational

Ausum read, Im a fan of Kevin Mitnik

Published 1 year ago by Amazon Customer

Tedious and difficult to finish

2.5 / 5. The bottom line of this book (and absolute truth) is people are gullible & not security conscious and literally need it beaten into them to "verify, verify,...Read more

Published 1 year ago by Paul

The art of social engineering

Learn about the art of social engineering and the reasons for doing so. An interesting tale told from the perspective of a reformed criminal. If you get a good price (i.e.Read more

Published 1 year ago by consumser CA

A must read for every CEO who thinks their company has a great security system in place

Kevin Mitnick is a very interesting person and once again he shows just how to use the Art of Social Engineering!Read more

Published 1 year ago by Jim Hill

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