Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick
Author: Kevin Mitnick
Format: Ebook
Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 4951822 (Publisher's Hardcover)
Description: The adventures of the world's most wanted hacker
Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud it.
Why I Read It: Recommended by my husband and downloaded to my phone to read while on vacation.
Lori's Notes: This was not the first book I was planning on reading while on our vacation. As my husband likes to call me, I'm a bit of a "momo" when it comes to technology. However, seeing as I'm doing more and more online it certainly captivated my interest in terms of personal security This book was a completely fascinating autobiography of Kevin Mitnick. One of the best known phone phreakers and hackers. The novel begins with his first forays into phone phreaking to his eventual capture by the FBI. What I found most interesting was his ability to "social engineer" people. By using the right language and terminology and dropping a few names Kevin was able to get people to give him passwords, source code, and even hardware. He fully admits to being a hacker and yet doesn't use his power to cause harm. He does it just for the challenge. However, the thing I found difficult to swallow, was that despite the fact that he's not causing damage he is still doing things that are illegal. I'm a "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" sort of thinker so after getting caught the first few times you'd think his lesson would have been learned - particularly when he talks about how upset it made both his mother and grandmother - but like an addict he just can't seem to stop himself. When he finally is caught the prosecutors exaggerate the cost of his crimes and he's charged and held in solitary. His incarceration ends with a "Free Kevin" campaign and a new era in his life begins - as a security consultant - hacking for good.
Recommended Readers: Grade 10 and Up
- Fantastic book for all library collections
- Great autobiographical title for non-fiction reading
- Anyone interested in technology and early days of hacking.
Themes: Non-Fiction, Autobiography, Hacking, Phone Phreaking, Technology, Social-Engineering, Big Brother, Security, Cat and Mouse, Outwitting Authority, Friendship, Trust, Betrayal, Family, Action and Consequences.
Cross-Genre Links:
Movie: Hackers (1995)
Movie: Takedown (2000)
Websearch: Kevin Mitnick
Post-Reading Questions and Activities:
- Do you agree that Kevin's hacking is harmless just because he doesn't steal or cause damage? What about the resources used in trying to prevent his crimes?
- Why do you think the government exaggerates his crimes?
- Why is Kevin kept in solitary confinement?
- What is social engineering? Have you ever been socially engineered? Give examples where this might happen.
- How are "hacking" and "security consulting" the same and how are they different.
- Take apart a piece of technology and try to put it together again. Can you make it work better?
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