Redazione RHC : 12 November 2025 17:01
Kevin Mitnick (code name Condor) is perhaps the most famous hacker of all time.
He is an American hacker, IT security consultant, ethical hacking expert, public speaker, and writer. He is a globally recognized icon of hacking (both black and white), as well as the author of two exceptional books: “The Art of Deception” (2003) and “The Art of Intrusion” (2005).
He was arrested for hacking into the computer network of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and while on parole, he hacked into Pacific Bell’s voicemail system.
A new arrest warrant was issued against him and he spent the next 3 years as a fugitive.
He was eventually arrested on February 15, 1995, and convicted of multiple counts of wire fraud, possession of unauthorized access devices, and other computer crimes.
He later founded the consulting firm Mitnick Security Consulting and the IT training company KnowBe4. He has appeared on numerous TV shows about cybersecurity and has also co-written four best-selling books.
Let’s now discover the key stages of his career.
Kevin David Mitnick was born on August 6, 1963, in Van Nuys, California, where he attended James Monroe High School in Los Angeles. He loved tinkering with radio equipment and was, in fact, an expert amateur radio operator. He studied at Los Angeles Pierce College and the University of Southern California (USC), and for a short time, worked as a receptionist for the Stephen S. Wise Temple Jewish organization.
Kevin has always been interested in hacking. When he was 12, he used social engineering, using scraps of paper from dumpsters, to deceive the Los Angeles bus card punching system.
In 1979, at the age of 16, he hacked into a computer network for the first time. He reportedly received the telephone number for the Ark, a system used by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in its RSTS/E operating system software. He hacked into DEC’s computer network and cloned their software. In 1988, he was convicted and received a one-year prison sentence and three years of supervised release.
As his supervised release neared its end, Kevin hacked into Pacific Bell’s voicemail computers.
An arrest warrant was issued for him, following which he spent nearly three years on the run from law enforcement.
As a fugitive, Kevin Mitnick gained unauthorized access to numerous computer networks. He used cloned cell phones to conceal his location. He also copied software owned by some of the largest telecommunications and computer companies in the United States. Kevin also stole computer passwords, modified computer networks, and hacked private emails.
He soon became known as “The Condor” and “The Darkside Hacker”.
He also made the FBI’s most wanted hacker list. When he was arrested, he had hacked into the systems of over 40 major corporate organizations, just for the thrill. He used false identities and ran from city to city.
On February 15, 1995, the FBI finally located Kevin at his home in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was arrested and charged with federal crimes related to computer hacking, including wire fraud, which he had been running for two and a half years. Police found multiple cloned cell phones and a fake ID he was using to hide.
In December 1997, Yahoo!’s website was hacked. It displayed a message demanding Kevin’s release, threatening an Internet “catastrophe” by Christmas that year if the demand wasn’t met.
Kevin Mitnick was ultimately charged with 14 counts of wire fraud and eight counts of possession of unauthorized access devices, as well as other offenses such as gaining unauthorized access to a federal computer system and damaging a computer.
In 1999, Kevin pleaded guilty to two counts of computer fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and a series of illegal wiretapping charges. He received a 46-month prison sentence, plus an additional 22 months for violating the terms of his previous 1989 probation sentence.
Kevin Mitnick ultimately spent 5 years in prison, including 4.5 years of pretrial confinement and 8 months of solitary confinement.
He was finally released from prison on January 21, 2000. His supervised release ended on January 21, 2003. Before that, he had been banned from using any communication technology other than a landline. Kevin challenged this decision in court and ultimately won. He was subsequently allowed to use the Internet.
Kevin was an accomplished IT security consultant, ethical hacking expert, public speaker, and author. He founded his own consulting firm, Mitnick Security Consulting, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 2003.
His LinkedIn profile described him as the company’s ” CEO and Chief White Hat Hacker.” The company primarily provides testing solutions, security strategies, and research and development consulting to various government and corporate clients. Some of its clients include AT&T, Dell, the FBI, FedEx, Harvard, IBM, MasterCard, Microsoft, Toshiba, Toyota, and NASA.
He has also been the “Chief Hacking Officer” of his company KnowBe4 since 2012. The company, based in Clearwater, Florida, trains people in security awareness and offers “anti-social engineering” techniques to manage and counter malicious hacking and cybercrimes such as spear phishing and ransomware attacks.
He has also served on the advisory boards of various groups and organizations, such as Zimperium, USA (since 2012); NETpeas, Morocco (since 2012); Solve Media, USA (since 2012); and LifeLock, USA (from 2008 to 2013).
As a public speaker, his presentations are informative and entertaining. They include live demonstrations and edutainment elements, including the latest hacking trends.
Kevin Mitnick passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 16, 2023 , after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer for over a year. Kevin passed away alongside his beloved wife, Kimberley Mitnick, who remained by his side throughout their 14-month ordeal. Kimberley was pregnant with their first child. Kevin was thrilled to begin this new chapter of his life with Kimberley, which was sadly cut short.
Kevin has also written (with William L. Simon and Robert Vamosi) four bestselling books on computer security:
All four books have been translated into 20 languages and are available in more than 50 countries.
Kevin has also appeared as a commentator on security issues on many news channels. He has appeared on channels and programs such as 60 Minutes, Rachel Ray, Dr. Phil, Court TV, Good Morning America, VICE-Motherboard, CNN’s Burden of Proof, Street Sweep, Tech TV’s Screen Saver, CNBC, CBS, CBC, and The Learning Channel. He was also seen in a guest appearance on the ABC spy drama Alias.
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