Kevin Mitnick, a hacker best known for his crime spree in the 1990s, who later became a consultant, writer, and public speaker after leaving prison, dies at 59
Mr. Mitnick, best known for a crime spree during the 1990s that involved the theft of thousands of data files and credit card numbers, died from pancreatic cancer.
New York Times
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- Wow. I worked with his former attorney, and was involved with #2600 in their efforts when he was jailed. … Erik Bloch
- I'll miss our chats Kevin Mitnick. — His brilliance in cybersecurity will forever inspire: “My primary goal of hacking was the intellectual curiosity, the seduction of adventure.” … Ariel Litvin
- Whatever his personal failings, Kevin Mitnick taught a generation of kids to be a total pain in the ass to every sysadmin trying to keep civilization running, that lockpicking is fun but not that they shouldn't steal when they're in there. — But even giant pains in the ass with the ethical sense of a flea don't deserve cancer. … @mdhughes@appdot.net
- This Hacker News comment amused me. A user argued against giving the site a “black bar,” usually reserved for the passing of prominent technology figures, because Kevin Mitnick stole his credit card number nearly 30 years ago. — He got the black bar not long after the news was confirmed. … @ernie@writing.exchange · Ernie Smith
- Cause and effect are rarely all that simple, but I think it's not too much hyperbole to say that if I'd not read about Kevin Mitnick as a teenager my career and life might have been pretty different. I wish I'd have had a chance to meet him and say thanks. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ... @jacob@social.jacobian.org
- 2/3 of the people lionizing mitnick today were probably shitposting about him last month. He was a complicated personality. I respected the fact that unlike most federally convicted felons who served prison time, he did pretty well for himself. Nobody deserves to die like he did. … @tprophet@defcon.social
- I have big complicated feelings about Mitnick. I read Ghost in the Wire, and it changed how I think about computers and who I'm willing to trust. — But then I got older and I started to question the narrative of the hacker archetype and I grew more critical. — I dunno. … @ajroach42@retro.social · Andrew
- I got to meet Kevin Mitnick once. He gave me his business card. It was metal and had the ability to break out and become a lock pick. 🔐 — #FreeKevin @vmstan@vmst.io · Michael Stanclift
- Just read that Kevin Mitnick had died. For those who don't know, he was one of the leading cybersecurity experts in the world. — I met him once a few years after his release from prison when he was still working on getting his life back together. … @sysop408@sfba.social · Sheldon Chang
- RIP to a hacker legend https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ... @andybaio@xoxo.zone · Andy Baio
- Apparently Kevin Mitnick died. If you watched Hackers, he consulted on it and was probably substantially the inspiration for Dade Murphy. https://news.ycombinator.com/ ... @Kye@tech.lgbt
- I'm really hoping the reports about Kevin Mitnick dying at 59 are an elaborate troll @riskybusiness@infosec.exchange · Patrick Gray
- Kevin Mitnick has died Hacker News
- Kevin Mitnick has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Beehaw · Kevin Mitnick Obituary
Discussion
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@ahess247.bsky.social
Arik Hesseldahl
on bluesky
Just seeing the news that Kevin Mitnick has died. He was the most famous computer hacker of all and in 2015 I flew to Germany to interview him for a conference and I also wrote this profile. https://www.vox.com/...
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@film_girl@mastodon.social
Christina Warren
on mastodon
Man. What a loss. The ultimate Hacker. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ...
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@MikeElgan@mastodon.social
Mike Elgan
on mastodon
Kevin Mitnick's business card. — [image]
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@ChrisPirillo@mastodon.social
Chris Pirillo
on mastodon
rip kevin mitnick ~ met him eons ago while at techtv ~ stayed connected over the years ~ friendliest guy as i knew him ~ https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ...
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@campuscodi@mastodon.social
Catalin Cimpanu
on mastodon
RIP Kevin Mitnick — August 6, 1963 - July 16, 2023 — https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ... [image]
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@ahess247@mastodon.world
Arik Hesseldahl
on mastodon
Just seeing the news that Kevin Mitnick, the world's most famous hacker, has died. In 2015 I flew to Germany to interview him on stage at a conference and used the occasion to write this profile. I was truly glad to get to know him. https://www.vox.com/...
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@trevmckendrick
Trevor McKendrick
on x
This is an exceedingly well written obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ...
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@unhealthytruth
@unhealthytruth
on x
@kevinmitnick @KnowBe4 Rest in peace my friend. I have so many more pictures but here's a tiny collage of stuff I just had available on my phone. We miss you already brother. ❤️🙏 [image]
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@unhealthytruth
@unhealthytruth
on x
It is with very heavy heart 💔that I announce the death of one of my dearest friends of several decades, computer hacker turned security expert and New York Times best selling author, Kevin Mitnick a.k.a. “Free Kevin”. I have been quiet for several days since our mutual friend...
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@bryanthemapsguy
Bryan Seely
on x
Man, didnt realize that @kevinmitnick recorded this webinar with me last year while he had pancreatic cancer. He was honestly the most cheerful I'd had seen him in years / seemed to be having fun for the 60+ min we talked, still just as brilliant. #freekevin #kevinisfree [image]
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@panopticonomy
Laura Love
on x
Thoughts: I would send messages to @kevinmitnick on here when the hashtag cowards who bullied kept going on and on for years.. No one and I mean NO ONE deserved that type of stalking and harassment shit for years on end. That has to be said. I got shit for it but I don't care, I.…
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@arvidkahl
Arvid Kahl
on x
Oh, wow, Kevin Mitnick has died. I was just reading his autobiography — in fact, I haven't finished. He had a turbulent life, that's for sure, and his exploits as a hacker are widely known, discussed, and opined on. We have lost a truly “indie” hacker. https://www.dignitymemorial…
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@kevincollier
Kevin Collier
on x
Kevin Mitnick died Sunday, per obituary, though everyone is only realizing now. He effectively created the archetype of the criminal prankster-hacker-turned social engineer who turned businessman after being busted. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ...
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@jackrhysider
@jackrhysider
on x
When I read Ghost in the Wires in 2016 I thought, man I wish there was a podcast with stories like this. RIP Kevin Mitnick. You inspired me to tell stories like you did.
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@ihackbanme
Zuk
on x
RIP @kevinmitnick. Thank you for everything. You were my childhood hero that became a friend. Thank you for everything. So many great memories. This is a picture from a lunch with @stevewoz after Defcon 2012. Kevin is in the mirror on the left side. We had a road trip from... [im…
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@insegar
Joaquín Rodríguez V.
on x
It was both a real pleasure and honor working with @kevinmitnick for the last 7 years, but it is a bigger honor to be able to call him a friend. He inspired me when I was 10 years old to follow this path in Infosec, and I will be forever grateful. Will miss you a lot my friend! […
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@kimzetter
Kim Zetter
on x
Oh my. Kevin Mitnick has died. “Kevin David Mitnick, 59, died peacefully on Sunday, July 16, 2023, after valiantly battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year.” https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ...
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@_d3f4ult
@_d3f4ult
on x
Very sad to hear about @kevinmitnick passing away. I'll never forget meeting you at DefCon back in the day and teaching me the nuances of Social Engineering. You were always a hero to me, being a felon and still being successful. We just lost a pioneer in Cyber Security. RIP. [im…
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@mikeelgan
Mike Elgan
on x
R.I.P. Kevin Mitnick. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/ ... [image]
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@sehnaoui
Khalil
on x
I'm deeply saddened by the loss of Kevin Mitnick. His brilliance in his field was matched only by his kind heart. Kevin, your loss leaves a void but your legacy and our fond memories of you will endure. You will be sorely missed. #KevinMitnick #RIP [image]
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Kevin Mitnick, hacker and fugitive turned security consultant, dies at 59
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Kevin Mitnick, Hacker Who Once Eluded Authorities, Is Dead at 59
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Kevin Mitnick has died
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Kevin Mitnick, 1963-2023