Kevin Mitnick, a former notorious hacker and one of the most wanted cyber criminals in the United States, passed away on Sunday at the age of 59. The news of his death was announced on Wednesday by KnowBe4, a cybersecurity training company he co-founded, and a Las Vegas funeral home. Kathy Wattman, a spokesperson for KnowBe4, confirmed his death. Mitnick had been battling pancreatic cancer and had been receiving treatment at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center since his diagnosis over a year ago, according to the King David Memorial Chapel & Cemetery in Las Vegas.
After serving time in prison for hacking into and compromising corporate computer networks, Mitnick turned his life around and embarked on a new career as a security consultant, writer, and public speaker. He gained notoriety in the 1990s for his hacking spree, which involved stealing thousands of data files and credit card numbers from computers across the country. Mitnick’s skills allowed him to infiltrate national phone and cell networks, wreaking havoc on government, corporate, and university computer systems.
During that time, investigators named him the most wanted computer hacker in the world. In 1995, after a lengthy manhunt, Mitnick was captured by the FBI and faced charges of illegal use of a telephone access device and computer fraud. Kent Walker, a former assistant U.S. attorney in San Francisco, described him as a significant threat, alleging his access to corporate trade secrets worth millions of dollars. While awaiting sentencing in 1998, a group of supporters took over The New York Times website, causing it to shut down.
In 1999, Mitnick pleaded guilty to computer and wire fraud as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Following his release, he was barred from using computers or cellphones without permission from his probation officer for three years. Mitnick, an only child of divorced parents, grew up in Los Angeles. He was known as a loner and developed an interest in magic tricks, as detailed in his memoir, “Ghost in the Wires.” By age 12, he had already discovered how to manipulate bus ticket systems, and in high school, he became fascinated with the inner workings of telephone companies’ switches and circuits.
At the age of 17, Mitnick started honing his hacking skills by infiltrating various corporate computer systems, marking the beginning of his lifelong game of cat-and-mouse with law enforcement. In his memoir, he disputed many of the accusations against him, including hacking into government computer systems. Mitnick claimed that he focused on the challenge of defeating his opponents rather than financially benefiting from his activities. He prioritized the game of chess and its strategic triumphs.
Mitnick leaves behind his wife, Kimberley Mitnick, who is currently expecting their first child. A comprehensive obituary will be released soon to provide more details about his life and accomplishments.
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