A long-term iconic hacker Kevin Mitnick passed away recently. The cybersecurity community mourns the loss of their legend. Famous hacker Kevin Mitnick, formerly on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, died at 59 from pancreatic cancer.
He changed his life after serving five years in prison, becoming an author and security expert. Kevin was a fascinating person who made others feel various emotions, including amazement, amusement, and complete appeal.
Kevin, your loss leaves a void but your legacy and our fond memories of you will endure. Let’s consider his influence on cybersecurity and how his deeds influenced the sector.
He can rest assured that he made history and he was an inspiration to thousands of people around the world. Here are the complete details about Kevin Mitnick death, career, and Cancer Journey.
Kevin Mitnick a pioneering hacker passed away
A prominent computer hacker who spent time in federal prison and was later placed on the FBI’s most wanted list passed away at 59.
After more than a year of fighting cancer, Kevin Mitnick passed away on Sunday. Most famously, Mitnick was sentenced to five years in prison, including eight months in solitary confinement, for illegally accessing cell phones and copying software.
While prosecutors stated that he could risk national security with his access, supporters counter that his misdeeds did not actually cause any harm and that the punishment was not required.
Following Mitnick’s arrest, the “Free Kevin” movement gained traction, with supporters holding protests in support of the guy who neighbors claim seemed like an ordinary IT worker.
Mitnick experienced a roller-coaster of successes and difficulties during his hacking career. His first conviction came in 1988 after he acquired unauthorized access to many computer systems.
He served time in jail, and even after his release, he carried on with his hacking endeavors, fleeing authorities for 2.5 years. Finally, in 1995, the FBI had him in custody.
He demonstrated a 4090-powered password cracker just a few weeks ago.
This is my new bad ass password cracker.
I have 24 4090's + 6 2080's all clustered running Hashtopolis.Thanks to the awesome team at @KnowBe4 that set up and configured the servers for me.
Now to go crack some hashes :-))))))) pic.twitter.com/SZLFH2OtKL
— Kevin Mitnick (@kevinmitnick) April 21, 2023
Kevin Mitnick cause of death
Kevin Mitnick, a notorious computer hacker, passed away on July 16, 2023, after valiantly battling pancreatic illness for more than a year.
His death was lamented by the cybersecurity community. Kevin Mitnick had reached the age of 59 at the time of his passing.
Many people have chosen careers in cybersecurity as a result of Kevin’s body of work, a profession where he leaves a tremendous legacy and an enduring impression. Kevin tried to defeat pancreatic cancer with the same unrelenting resolve.
He and Kimberley devoted countless hours to seeking the best treatments, the most innovative research, and the most accomplished and determined medical professionals.
He discovered the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, Drs. Amer Zureikat and Randall Brand, and their outstanding team through his search. We are forever grateful to everyone who gave their all to help Kevin survive and overcome the odds.
Kevin David Mitnick Obiturary reads,
Kevin David Mitnick, 59, died peacefully on Sunday, July 16, 2023, after valiantly battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kimberley Mitnick, who remained by his side throughout their 14-month ordeal.
He is survived by his brother-in-law, Ricky Barry, and his wife Roxy, and their three children: Millie, Winston, and George, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Daisy and Andrew Tibbs, his stepmother Nanci King, his great aunt Sophie “Chickie” Leventhal and her longtime partner, Dr. Bob Berkowitz, Kevin’s cousins Mitch Leventhal, Karen van den Berg, Jolie Mitnick, Mark Mitnick and Wendy Cohen.
Kevin was preceded in death by his devoted mother, Shelly Jaffe, and his loving grandmother, Reba Vartanian, his father, Alan Mitnick, and his half-brother, Adam Mitnick. Kevin was also very grateful for the legions of fans who in the mid-to-late 1990’s fueled the global “FREE KEVIN” movement.
Who was Kevin Mitnick?
Kevin David Mitnick was an American computer security expert, author, and convicted hacker who lived from August 6, 1963, until July 16, 2023.
His arrest in 1995 and subsequent five years in prison for several offenses involving computers and communications are what made him most famous.
There was controversy surrounding Mitnick’s pursuit, detention, trial, and sentence as well as the related media, books, and movies. Later, Mitnick served as the CEO of Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC.
Additionally, he served as the Chief Hacking Officer and a co-owner of KnowBe4, which provides security awareness training, and he was an active member of the advisory board at Zimperium, which creates mobile intrusion prevention systems.
EARLY LIFE & CHILDHOOD
Mitnick, who was born in Van Nuys, California, on August 6, 1963, started hacking when he was just 12 years old. Early on, he demonstrated an interest in technology, receiving the moniker “Condor” after the film “Three Days of the Condor.”
By the age of 16, he had already gotten access to a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computer network as his hacking activities gained momentum.
NETWORTH
Mitnick became well-known for his hacking activities throughout his life, which put him on the FBI’s most-wanted list and resulted in his capture and incarceration.
As he moved his attention to cybersecurity consulting, public speaking, and writing books about his exploits, his net worth remained unknown. His net worth is listed on websites as ranging from $5 million to $20 million.
MEDIA APPEARANCES
In the 2000 film Track Down (known as Takedown outside of the US), which was based on the book Takedown by John Markoff and Tsutomu Shimomura, Skeet Ulrich, and Russell Wong played Kevin Mitnick and Tsutomu Shimomura, respectively.
September 2004 saw the release of the DVD. Mitnick also had an appearance in the 2016 Werner Herzog film Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World.
BOOKS WRITTEN BY MITNICK
Mitnick used his talents to write many books about his experiences, give speeches, and counsel on cybersecurity issues. Kevin Mitnick coauthored four books that each provided insight into the worlds of cybersecurity and hacking.
He is most known for his books “The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security,” “The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders & Deceivers,” and his autobiography “Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker.”
These books shed light on the techniques used by hackers and the difficulties in protecting computer networks. The life of Kevin Mitnick was filled with mystery, adventure, and controversy.
He created a lasting impression on the cybersecurity and hacking communities, and his legacy will be discussed for many years to come.
Story of Kevin Mitnick
During the late 1990s, Kevin Mitnick, known as Cyberspace’s Most Wanted, came to represent governmental persecution. He was imprisoned for five years, from 1995 to 2000, of which eight months were spent in solitary.
Charges include wire fraud, intercepting wire or electronic communications, and gaining unauthorized access to and harming a federal computer.
How did everything begin?
The life of Kevin Mitnick, the most well-known hacker of all time, starts in the 1960s on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
Mitnick spent the majority of his time alone as a child of divorced parents whose mother worked long nights as a waitress.
His early years without a mother afforded him the ability to travel the entirety of Los Angeles. His early explorations turned out to be a turning point and predicted his future in hacking.
Due to his extended periods of solitude, he was able to circumvent the security measures at the bus terminal and obtain free fries wherever in Los Angeles.
He initially engaged in serious hacking during his senior year of high school. Mitnick and a colleague student learned the technique of “phone phreaking,” which allowed them to swiftly discover whatever data that phone companies possessed on their clients.
He quickly became fascinated by anything phone-related and quickly attained the same level of expertise as any other employee of the telephone company.
Hacking Career
When Mitnick was a senior in high school, he first learned how to hack. At the young age of 16, he successfully cracked the computer system at Digital Equipment Corporation to impress his hacking friends.
Sadly, he was deceived by his “friends” who revealed his identity, and he was sentenced to almost a year in prison. He spent his time after being let out hacking mobile phone providers.
He had NEC, Motorola, and Nokia as among his goals. When the FBI intervened, Mitnick was forced to flee. On February 15, 1995—more than two years later—he was taken into custody.
On the Yahoo! Website, a request for Mitnick’s release was made public in December 2017. The self-described Mitnick Liberation Front posted the message, which stated that everybody who had used Yahoo in the previous month had received a virus that would destroy the networks of planets unless Mitnick was freed.
Mitnick’s Detention
Mitnick was imprisoned for nearly four and a half years before the court’s decision, eight months of which were spent in solitary.
The judge was persuaded by the police that all he needed was a payphone to initiate a nuclear conflict. Also, he entered a guilty plea in 1999 for wire fraud, computer fraud, and wire communication interception.
When Mitnick was freed in 2000 under supervision, he was only allowed to use landlines and no other communication devices.
Moreover, he fought this choice, nevertheless, and prevailed. But as part of the plea agreement, he was forbidden from making money off of films and books that were made in his name.
Worldwide tributes to Kevin Mitnick are flooding social media
“His contributions to the sector will definitely serve as an example for future generations of hackers and cybersecurity professionals as the community laments his departure”
We at MedicoTopics extend our deepest condolences to his family and the entire community. May they find strength and solace during this difficult time. Feel free to drop your condolences and tributes below in the comment section.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.