 |
Kevin Mitnick. (CNN) |
Kevin Mitnick, who once had the FBI on a three-year manhunt after infiltrating the systems of some of the world’s largest corporations, now travels the globe to guide companies on how to defend against threats like those he once posed.
Mitnick (over 40 years old, American) is one of the most famous hackers of the 20th century. He successfully breached the internal networks and stole software from several renowned companies, including Sun Microsystems and Motorola.
From his teenage years, Mitnick hacked into telephone networks before transitioning to computer systems. However, he never stole money or caused serious damage; he was simply seeking the thrill of the chase.
This unusual pastime landed Mitnick on the FBI’s Most Wanted list and resulted in nearly five years in prison during the 1990s. After his release and a ban on using the Internet, he published two books detailing his experiences and began to establish a cybersecurity consulting firm.
Today, businesses that were once targets of Mitnick now hire him to breach their systems in order to identify security flaws. He asserts that many companies are still unaware of how easily hackers can gather sensitive information such as driver’s licenses, Social Security numbers, and personal details.
“Social engineering”—the tactics hackers use to trick users into revealing confidential data—has been a key strategy for Mitnick to penetrate some of the most sophisticated systems in the world. Although advanced technology helps organizations combat viruses, it becomes ineffective if hackers can deceive employees into disclosing passwords and sensitive information. To illustrate this point, he was able to locate the Social Security number of U.S. President George Bush and the maiden name of actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s mother in under 15 seconds.
“Hackers will find weaknesses in people themselves. What is the biggest vulnerability? It’s the illusion of a solid, impenetrable system,” Mitnick emphasizes. “People don’t necessarily have to live in fear of being attacked, but they need to stay alert and vigilant“.
