Kevin Mitnick
Once America’s most-wanted hacker, later a security consultant
- Lived
- 59 yrs
- 1963 – 2023
- Works listed
- 2
- Book, Memoir
- Honours
- 0
- Awards & distinctions
- Profile views
- 3
- 0 followers
Kevin Mitnick was an American hacker whose break-ins to company computer systems made him one of the FBI’s most-wanted cybercriminals in the 1990s. After serving five years in prison, he became a security consultant and author who taught organisations about social engineering. He died in 2023.
Biography
Early hacking
As a teenager in Los Angeles, Mitnick tricked bus-ticket systems and phone companies. In 1979 he gained access to DEC’s network and copied software, for which he was convicted in 1988.
The fugitive
While on supervised release he hacked again and became a fugitive in 1992, accessing systems at companies including Motorola, Nokia and Sun. He was arrested in North Carolina in February 1995 after a hunt involving security expert Tsutomu Shimomura.
Prison
He pleaded guilty and spent about five years in prison, part in solitary confinement. His case sparked a “Free Kevin” campaign by hackers who felt the punishment was excessive.
Security consultant
After release in 2000 he founded Mitnick Security Consulting, wrote books including The Art of Deception and Ghost in the Wires, and became chief hacking officer at KnowBe4. He died of pancreatic cancer in July 2023.
Timeline
-
1963
Born in Van Nuys, California, United States
-
1979
Breaks into DEC’s network
-
1988
First conviction
-
1992
Becomes a fugitive
-
1995
Arrested
-
2000
Released from prison
-
2002
The Art of Deception
-
2011
Ghost in the Wires
-
2023
Dies
-
2023
Died, aged 59
Notable works
-
2002
The Art of Deception Book
With William L. Simon.
-
2011
Ghost in the Wires Memoir
Did you know?
-
1
Prosecutors claimed he could start a nuclear war by whistling into a phone, which kept him in solitary confinement.
-
2
He mostly used social engineering — tricking people — rather than technical hacks.
-
3
His business cards were made of metal lock-pick sets.
Connections
Also born on 6 August
-
Nat Friedman
Technology · Former GitHub CEO who launched Copilot and now leads product at Meta Superintelligence Labs
1977
-
Jon Postel
Technology · Internet pioneer who managed IANA and edited the RFC series
1943
-
Travis Kalanick
Technology · Co-founder and former CEO of Uber
1976
-
John Collison
Technology · Irish co-founder and president of Stripe
1990
Frequently asked
Who is Kevin Mitnick?
Kevin Mitnick was an American hacker whose break-ins to company computer systems made him one of the FBI’s most-wanted cybercriminals in the 1990s. After serving five years in prison, he became a security consultant and author who taught organisations about social engineering. He died in 2023.
When did Kevin Mitnick die?
Kevin Mitnick died on 16 July 2023 at the age of 59.
Where is Kevin Mitnick from?
Kevin Mitnick was born in Van Nuys, California, United States.
What is Kevin Mitnick known for?
Kevin Mitnick is best known for Hacking in the 1980s–90s; arrest in 1995; social engineering; security consulting.
References
- Kevin Mitnick — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Kevin Mitnick — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Kevin Mitnick — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Kevin Mitnick — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Official website. mitnicksecurity.com. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Kevin Mitnick (Q7449) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Kevin Mitnick”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 4 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Kevin Mitnick.” TrackFame, last updated 5 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/kevin-mitnick
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