Ghost in the Wires

My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker

By: Kevin Mitnick, William L. Simon

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 13 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world’s biggest companies—and however fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. He spent years skipping through cyberspace, always three steps ahead and labeled unstoppable. But for Kevin, hacking wasn’t just about technological feats—it was an old fashioned confidence game that required guile and deception to trick the unwitting out of valuable information.

Driven by a powerful urge to accomplish the impossible, Mitnick bypassed security systems and blazed into major organizations including Motorola, Sun Microsystems, and Pacific Bell. But as the FBI’s net began to tighten, Kevin went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated cat-and-mouse game that led through false identities, a host of cities, plenty of close shaves, and to an ultimate showdown with the feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.

Ghost in the Wires is a thrilling true story of intrigue, suspense, and unbelievable escape and a portrait of a visionary whose creativity, skills, and persistence forced the authorities to rethink the way they pursued him, inspiring ripples that brought permanent changes in the way people and companies protect their most sensitive information.

©2011 Kevin Mitnick. Foreword 2011 by Steve Wozniak (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Intriguing, insightful, and extremely educational into the mind of one who truly mastered the art of social engineering with the use of a computer and modern-day technologies. I strongly believe that one can learn a great deal about protecting themselves once they understand how another one perpetrates the crime.” (Frank W. Abagnale, author of Catch Me If You Can)

Gets even better as is goes

I got increasingly engrossed in this story until I didn't want to stop listening. It's suspenseful and intricate, and the amazing level of detail added authenticity. Sometimes when authors offer incredible detail of past events I become suspicious that they're filling in gaps in their memory by just inventing things. But I never got that sense in this book. Mitnick not only has an astounding memory and ability to recount these tales, but also had access to documentation to help fill in facts he may not remember fully.

At first I was disappointed that it was not so much about technical hacking as much as "social engineering" (mostly lying to people over the phone). Though he's highly technically proficient, his main weapon is an ability to convince people to give him their passwords or otherwise grant him access to sensitive systems by pretending to be a fellow employee. But as the story went on he got more into the technical details (mostly related to phone system switches and computers), and I was fully sucked in. His explanations of how he spied on the people spying on him, or unveiled the true identities of undercover informants, are not only impressive but suspenseful as well. And since he was never hacking for financial gain or to damage anything, I enjoyed rooting for him despite the nuisance he caused.

He also manages to recount all these stories without sounding overly braggadocious or cocky, which is not an easy feat. His techniques are extremely clever, even if they didn't always prevent him from being caught. Though his string of legal issues seems to spring from his lack of willpower to stop hacking rather than a carelessness to cover his tracks.

I also loved Ray Porter's narration and look forward to listening to other books from him.

Extremely Satisfying

I got this book as part of a 2 books for 1 credit deal so I wasn't sure how good it would be as I haven't had good luck in these deals before. On this one though, I hit the jackpot. This book is entirely engrossing. Kevin Mitnick has a great way of having a conversation with the reader throughout the book. I felt like I was in the room with Ray Porter as he told me his life story. For an autobiography, this one is full of suspense and excitement as the net is pulled tighter and tighter around Mitnick with many escapes.
I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this work and would recommend it to anyone who likes biographies, computer culture, crime mysteries, or has listened to Kevin on KFI.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Free Kevin!!! Great book!

This is a great book, great story, written perfectly, was like a fiction story, but for real!!

Love this book

Ray Porter has Mitnicks story down. I have played this book more then once. I recommend listening to this book.

kevin mitnick's life story

a detailed overview of Mitnick's life of hacking, in story format that tells an amazing journey. this book will keep you entertained with story after story that may stretch some imaginations. yet these are the true accounts of a hacker addicted to seeing what was behind locked doors and gaining access yet never making money off what he did, nor doing damage. and then being prosecuted as a threat to national security.

Very good, sometimes unrealistic

A few too many coincidences take away from the believability of the story. But overall very entertaining and enlightening.

Thrilling and Respectable

I really enjoyed hearing the Story of Kevin Mitnick and what he was able to accomplish. I don't think they could have gotten a better narrator. A performance and book very well done.

Fascinating

Good book, enjoyed the suspense. Crazy to think security is that easy to exploit and people are so helpful.

A stroy about social engineering

If youre looking for a good story about social engineering and less hacking or cyber security this is a great book. Kevin breaks down in detail how he was able to socially engineer his wau knto and out of trouble

Just what I was looking for

So this was the first audio book I've ever listened to and I couldn't have been more pleased. I'm really busy most of the time so sitting down and relaxing enough to just read is out of the question. The story might be a bit bland for some especially if you aren't tech savvy but I enjoyed it. Now if I could just find the modern day equivalent to this story I'd be happy