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)

if you are even considering getting it.

Just get it. Seriously. I promise you will never regret it. Finished it in 3 days.

Better than a crime thriller.

Would you listen to Ghost in the Wires again? Why?

Yes - a captivating audio-book that is hard to grasp all the detail on the first listen.

What did you like best about this story?

It's a true life drama coming out of the birth of the computer age. It involves an insecure kid, with a brilliant mind and a compulsion to see how far he could go in breaching some of the best security systems in the world. His activity was illegal and he ultimately paid dearly for his wrong-doing, but his intent was never malicious. In the end the computer world had much to thank him for.

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

My first Ray Porter experience. Perfect for the job and it felt like it was really Kevin Mitnick telling his own story.

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

Yes there were definitely a few emotional moments as you are drawn into the life of Kevin and identify with tragedies and ultimate triumph of his life.

Any additional comments?

At times for me there is a bit too much technical jargon and detail given, but the story is fast paced enough to carry you through these duller bits. Computer savvy types probably appreciate this extra detail.

Excellent book, the narration was great also!

The book was great, I'll be giving it another listen soon. the real story is much better than the made up stories heard for so long!

Really enjoyable!

Would you listen to Ghost in the Wires again? Why?

I don't watch or read anything twice. Doing so may tarnish the great memories I have of books such as this one. I would recommend it to others though, no doubt.

Which scene was your favorite?

There are some really clever ploys Kevin Mitnick used at various times in his life. Most of my favourite scenes involved him coming up with clever plans or even better, the times when he had to come up with some genius on a moments notice to get out of what looked to be a situation possible to escape from.

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

I had no idea social engineering is so critical to hacking, nor was I aware how easy it was as long as you're willing to be deceitful.

Any additional comments?

It can be hard to tear myself away from my computer and go to bed of a night time, but while I was listening to this book, I would go to be up to 2 hours early just to listen to it. The narration is excellent, even funny at times when the narrator does accents and puts his own spin on little spin on things.

Great insight into how hacking works

Being a bit of a computer geek myself, I really appreciated the insight into how hacking works, particularly from its early days. And it provides a clear view into the mind of an addict, as well as the fearful approach of a legal system that doesn't quite know how to handle a new phenomenon (a bit like how society handles ETs - major overkill). Yes Mitnick may have done 'wrong' in poking around into people's business, but it's a great shame that he was incarcerated for lots of things he didn't actually do. Perhaps this was because those who checked into what he actually DID do, didn't have the expertise to know the length and breadth of what he HAD done (only Mitnick, a pioneer in the field, could know this, thus the legal eagles would have to rely on HIS testimony for this information, which of course was dubious due to the incredible depth to which he had probed cyber technology... To believe that Kevin hadn't made $$$ out of the passwords etc in his possession would be an act of faith --> the legal system isn't exactly an upholder of that virtue :)

Mitnick's insights on Social Engineering are immensely interesting. I've always wondered about the ease with which one might pose as a genuine employee of a company. You'd only need to know the jargon/lingo specific to that company, and you're 'in', particularly if you're friendly and understanding when you deal with employees who are rushed, stressed and most of all, underpaid for the massive job they do. It happened to me back in 2000 - I worked in a secure environment and the receptionist put through a call to me from someone who was quite a dangerous character, but VERY charming.

Here's the thing: the level of security we now have in cyberspace probably wouldn't be as tight as it is without Mitnick's escapades. In many ways it's good that he was an addict - someone more focused on making big bucks would probably have done their damnedest to take the money and run!

Really enjoyed this book.

Would you consider the audio edition of Ghost in the Wires to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the book, but think I would have given up on the print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There was really only 1 character, Kevin, interesting, bright but also stupid.

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

No

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the book, it was very informative, but at times a little too much technical details.

Loved it - warts & all!

Hacking isn't a perfect life but the book gave me an understanding of hackers and their ways of thinking. Why do they go there? - It is a science, a challenge and the discovery that drives them and makes us uncomfortable. From the beginning of time, hackers have delved into our lives, figuring out every quirk from the left brain/right brain concept to why my hair is curly.

Exciting Biography of a Humble Hacker

The book was brilliant in describing Kevin Mitnick's run from the FBI as they attempted to track him down for hacking into industry computers and taking information. Thought it was an interesting take on an ethical hacker who did it more for fun than for any monetary gain. Was also very neat seeing how he evaded investigators and still stayed in contact with his family.

#tagsgiving #sweepstakes #ethicalhacker

what an interesting and exciting read!

I loved every second of this book! The details of the hacking or fascinating, and it was neat to consider where I was in my life while this was all going on. a great read over all!

Good modern day Adventure

What made the experience of listening to Ghost in the Wires the most enjoyable?

The narrator was so in-tuned with the story it did not seem he was reading it but telling it to you as if it was his own story. alot of emotion and intonation of the words,

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

the way it sounded more like a story than just something being read to you

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

the dramatic way it was told.

If you could give Ghost in the Wires a new subtitle, what would it be?

social engineering in the 80's

Any additional comments?

enjoyed the story but one there was a computer read out or technical line it got a bit dry at times. don't need to hear a 1 page bank statement read out verbatim