Kevin Mitnick Quotes

A collection of quotes by Kevin Mitnick.

Kevin Mitnick is a renowned American computer security consultant, author, and hacker. Born on August 6, 1963, in Van Nuys, California, Mitnick gained notoriety in the 1990s as one of the most-wanted computer criminals in the United States. He specialized in social engineering and was skilled at manipulating computer systems and networks to gain unauthorized access.

Mitnick's hacking activities included infiltrating corporate networks and stealing sensitive information. His exploits were driven by curiosity and the desire to understand the inner workings of computer systems. However, his actions resulted in legal trouble, and he became the subject of an intense manhunt by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Mitnick's ability to evade authorities for years earned him the title "The world's most wanted hacker."

After his arrest in 1995, Mitnick served five years in prison for various computer-related crimes. Upon his release, he changed paths and became an advocate for ethical hacking and security. He founded the security firm Mitnick Security Consulting, which helps organizations strengthen their defenses against cyber threats. Additionally, Mitnick has authored several books, including "The Art of Deception" and "Ghost in the Wires," which detail his hacking exploits and offer insights into computer security.

Today, Mitnick is widely recognized as a cybersecurity expert and regularly speaks at conferences and events worldwide. He uses his extensive knowledge and experiences to educate individuals and organizations about the importance of protecting themselves in the digital age.

At the end of the day, my goal was to be the best hacker.

At the end of the day, my goal was to be the best hacker.

Some people think technology has the answers.

Some people think technology has the answers.

Hackers are breaking the systems for profit. Before, it was

Hackers are breaking the systems for profit. Before, it was about intellectual curiosity and pursuit of knowledge and thrill, and now hacking is big business.

Business

I got so passionate about technology. Hacking to me was like

I got so passionate about technology. Hacking to me was like a video game. It was about getting trophies. I just kept going on and on, despite all the trouble I was getting into, because I was hooked.

Technology

I get hired by companies to hack into their systems and brea

I get hired by companies to hack into their systems and break into their physical facilities to find security holes. Our success rate is 100% we've always found a hole.

Success

A company can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on fire

A company can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on firewalls, intrusion detection systems and encryption and other security technologies, but if an attacker can call one trusted person within the company, and that person complies, and if the attacker gets in, then all that money spent on technology is essentially wasted.

Technology

It was used for decades to describe talented computer enthus

It was used for decades to describe talented computer enthusiasts, people whose skill at using computers to solve technical problems and puzzles was - and is - respected and admired by others possessing similar technical skills.

Computers

My actions constituted pure hacking that resulted in relativ

My actions constituted pure hacking that resulted in relatively trivial expenses for the companies involved, despite the government's false claims.

Government

Are hackers a threat? The degree of threat presented by any

Are hackers a threat? The degree of threat presented by any conduct, whether legal or illegal, depends on the actions and intent of the individual and the harm they cause.

Legal

Should we fear hackers? Intention is at the heart of this di

Should we fear hackers? Intention is at the heart of this discussion.

Fear

No way, no how did I break into NORAD. That's a complete myt

No way, no how did I break into NORAD. That's a complete myth. And I never attempted to access anything considered to be classified government systems.

Government

I think it goes back to my high school days. In computer cla

I think it goes back to my high school days. In computer class, the first assignment was to write a program to print the first 100 Fibonacci numbers. Instead, I wrote a program that would steal passwords of students. My teacher gave me an A.

Teacher

I get hired to hack into computers now and sometimes it's ac

I get hired to hack into computers now and sometimes it's actually easier than it was years ago.

Computers

I was pretty much the government's poster boy for what I had

I was pretty much the government's poster boy for what I had done.

Government

It's kind of interesting, because hacking is a skill that co

It's kind of interesting, because hacking is a skill that could be used for criminal purposes or legitimate purposes, and so even though in the past I was hacking for the curiosity, and the thrill, to get a bite of the forbidden fruit of knowledge, I'm now working in the security field as a public speaker.

Knowledge

As a young boy, I was taught in high school that hacking was

As a young boy, I was taught in high school that hacking was cool.

Cool