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)

One of the most amazing stories I've heard.

I grew up hearing about Kevin Mitnick, but could have never realized all he was able to do. Truly an amazing story and what a hero.

Awesome book

Great book! really interesting story. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in computers!

interesting listen. more mitnicks portrayal

The book is written well. It is entertaining and there is a lot of details at parts where the hacker in me is fed. Not all exploits are explained in detail which makes sense as the book is written for entertainment purposes and not as a teaching aid.

What I did find anoying is where the author goes to length at trying to describe how different Mitnick is from the 'other criminal hackers' during the same era. For example, Mitnick is described as having ethics and values unlike those that steal and use credit card details or wire transfer funds from a bank. He is also described as having 'unauthorised use' of a cell phone but never commited theft etc. Well that's symantics. I'm sure that a reasonable person would see his use of a phone that was mapped to another customer to make calls that were charged at $1 a minute as theft.

The other section that annoys me is how the story is written as Mitnick is continually surprised regarding how people were ready to manipulate him or his situation or disclose details of escapades for personal gain. When only moments later in the story Mitnick is manipulating someone in some position, in some cases making them work, to gain information or access to a system for... personal gain.

It seems as though he could not piece together that 'unauthorised phone acces' is theft just like not paying for a meal in a restaurant or using a taxi and then making a runner and the theft that other hackers were performing were not for kicks but to supplement an income while working as a island and therefore should never be trusted.

Other than these minor points, it was a good book.

Awesome book. Great story telling!

I love this book! Highly recommended even if you're not a very technical person. Really interesting.

Not a book for everyone

Where does Ghost in the Wires rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Number 1 so far.

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I played the book in double speed and for some reason enhanced my experience, with Ray sounding more urgent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

Any additional comments?

I first came across Kevin when listening to a Paul dot Com security podcast when Kevin was on as a guest. I was "sucked in" into his experiences, and sounding absurd now, but how he was treated by the FBI. Later on he went onto an interview with Leo Larporte's Triangulation and heard a bit more there.I think he would be fit to be the "definition of hacker". Many readers may think he is arrogant, but I do not. I think he has a very different and I mean DIFFERENT set of morals than everyone else. He is ethical, despite what others think. He empasised time and again how he did not make a single cent out of his hacking activities, and I do not see any reason for him to lie. Unfortunately most hacks do hack for personal gain - which doesn't do any favor with his reputation.

As I was listening to the book and when he went into great details of how he hacked various places, it can get slightly long. But as I had it sped up those part (a couple of them) flew past quite fast.

As I was listening to the book, I realised that Kevin is an addict. Addicted to the adrenalin of the challenge of knowing and once known, he move on to another target - like he HAS to have the source code for sun. It almost seems that once he knows that it is out there, he cannot resist. One thing I got out of the book is that we human beings are trusting in nature - and he is indeed a master of, in some ways breaching that trust. As he mentioned, non of the FBI was smart enough to catch him, but in hind sight he won't be here to share your fantastic story today if he didn't get caught, didn't go to jail. Amazing rollercoaster story. I am blown away at how much Kevin had in eye of details, memory and social engineering skills. I am just glad that he is not a a black hat hacker.

An incredibly riveting and gripping true story

Where does Ghost in the Wires rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Ranks among the best and most unbelievable true stories I've ever read

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

That this wasn't fiction dreamed up in an authors imagination and that this modern-day criminal is someone you (almost) never want to see get caught - that's what made this such a great read for me!

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Without a doubt

Any additional comments?

A little too much technical explanation from time to time, but is written so that if you want to ignore this stuff, you still won't miss a single beat

easily now a top book of all time

amazing story that is addictive and hard to put down. the narrator also uses amazing voice influxing

Excellent book!

I think it was a very exciting book! Since it is based on actual events even more so. It was also intriguing to get to know the person behind the "World's most wanted hacker"-moniker.
This is of course seen from one side of the story so unbiased he is not! But an entertaining book with many stories of his feats.
You do not have to be a geek to enjoy this book, but once in a while it helps.

even better than Catch Me If You Can

exhilarating ride, all the more because it's true! did lose some momentum once or twice.

Pretty damn good!

If you could sum up Ghost in the Wires in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, dramatic, and intriguing

What other book might you compare Ghost in the Wires to and why?

Art of Deception. These stories are essentially the same. Mitnick

Which scene was your favorite?

Leaving the donuts in the fridge for the FBI. Classic.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That perhaps Mitnick's hacking skills were/are underappreciated. His skill at social engineering is incredible. I think that may overshadow his true abilities at understanding the inner working of networks, telephone systems, and computer systems.

Any additional comments?

If there is any shortcoming to the book, it is that for the most part, it was overly dramatic. I liked this but, I kept thinking in the back of my mind,