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Born
On August 6, 1963, Mitnick was born in Van Nuys, California (Mitnick, 109). -
Humble Beginnings
By age 12, Mitnick was salvaging blank punch cards used in the Los Angeles bus system from dumpsters. He used social engineering to convince a bus driver to tell him where he could buy his own ticket punch "for a school project" (Mitnick, 6). -
First Digital Hack
At age 16, Mitnick gained unauthorized access to the Digital Equipment Corporation's computer network using a combination of social engineering and teaching himself the RSTS/E operating system (Mitnick, 13). -
Pacific Bell Break & Entry
Mitnick, 17, and friend Steven Rhoades break into Pacific Telephone’s Sunset-Gower central office. They are caught by security, but no charges were pressed (Mitnick, 14-15). -
Pacific Bell Hack
Mitnick and friend Lenny DiCicco hack into Pacific Bell and gain full control over all phone switches in Los Angeles (Mitnick, 29-30). -
DEC Source Code Stolen With Aid of ARPANET
Mitnick writes malware and uses it to steal Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS operating system source code, and uses unauthorized access to ARPAnet (first precursor to the modern internet) to covertly exfiltrate the data (Mitnick, 39). -
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Pacific Bell Hacks Continue
From 1983 to 1986, Mitnick and friend Lenny DiCicco are able to hack into all Pacific Bell switches for all of Los Angeles, Manhattan, Utah, and Nevada. This gave them control over switches which served the Washington, DC, area, including all of the Federal government and Pentagon. Mitnick had the ability to trace lines, create new phone numbers, disconnect any phone number, add/remove custom calling features, set up traps-and-traces, and access logs from traps-and-traces (Mitnick, 29). -
Prison: Part 1
Mitnick is convicted of the theft of DEC's VMS operating system source code and is sentenced to 12 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release (Mitnick, 175-176). -
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Supervised Release
Mitnick was released from prison on November, 3, 1989, and was ordered 3 years probation with strict limitations on use of computer equipment (Mitnick, 112). -
Violates Probation, Becomes FBI Most Wanted
Near the end of his supervised release, Mitnick hacks into Pacific Bell voicemail computers. A warrant was issued for his arrest and Mitnick fled, becoming a fugitive for two and a half years (Mitnick, 175). -
Mitnick Found and Arrested
While on the lam, Mitnick attacked the computers of computer security expert Tsutomu Shimomura. Shimomura assisted the FBI in finding and arresting Mitnick in Raleigh, North Carolina (Mitnick, 179). -
Prison: Part 2
After a well-publicized trial, Mitnick is convicted of 14 counts of wire fraud, 8 counts of possession of unauthorized access devices, interception of wire or electronic communications, unauthorized access to a federal computer, and causing damage to a computer. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison, plus an additional 22 months for violating the terms of his 1989 supervised release sentence for computer fraud (Mitnick, 44-45). -
Mitnick Released from Prison
Mitnick served five years in prison. Four and a half years pre-trial, and eight of those months were in solitary confinement (Mitnick, 92). -
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Mitnick Under Supervised Release
During his supervised release, Mitnick was initially forbidden to use any communication technologies other than a landline telephone. After fighting this decision in court, he was eventually allowed access the internet (Mitnick, 67). -
Mitnick Founds Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC
Mitnick founded a cyber security consulting firm, Mitnick Security Consulting, whose clients include many Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies like the FBI. His firm offers penetration testing services as well as social engineering training ("About").
