Ro's Recz

Apparently, Kevin Mitnick is one of the most well-known hackers/social engineers in the world. I am not very familiar with the hacking world though, so prior to reading his book, Ghost in the Wires, I had never heard of him before.

Now, Mitnick works as a security consultant, doing the same type of hacking work he used to do but legally (on behalf of companies). Before though, he used to be a hacker, but not the type who does it for money or fame (or so he claims in the book).

In Ghost in the Wires, Mitnick tells about his hacking days and some of the incredible stunts he pulled. Although he got caught on many occasions, most of the time he was able to get off relatively easily, and it wasn’t until later on in his career that he got caught and sent to jail for an extended period of time; up until then, most of his exploits had resulted in a slap on the wrist or a short stint in jail.

Reading Ghost in the Wires, you will be surprised to learn that Mitnick’s main reason for his exploits was just for his own personal satisfaction of proving he could do it. He wanted to test his skills against some of the largest corporations in the world and prove he could break into their systems that were considered impenetrable. It is also incredible to learn how Mitnick pulled off most of his stunts, and how trusting most people are if you give them seemingly good information. It is a bit scary and proves the power of social engineering, and reading Ghost in the Wires makes it more understandable about how large scale hacking attacks occur. If you are unfamiliar with hacking and just want to learn more about the topic, reading Ghost in the Wires is a good and interesting introduction!

Ghost in the Wires Recommendation Rating: 4

1: Something worth checking out if you have time

2: Something that is a hit for some people, but not a must for everyone

3: Something worth prioritizing if interested

4: Something worth making time to check out

5: An absolute home run, worth going out of your way for