Kevin Mitnick

Kevin David Mitnick grew up during the emergence of modern phone and computer technology—and was captivated by it from the outset. As a teenager, he spent countless hours experimenting with new systems, gathering with fellow “phone phreaks” to analyse telephone networks, test boundaries, and exchange ideas. These early explorations helped shape what would later be recognised as the foundations of cyber social engineering.

As Mitnick matured, so did his technical expertise. His understanding of telecommunications, computers and programming deepened, along with his willingness to test the limits of system security by gaining unauthorised access to protected information. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, his activities had drawn significant attention, culminating in his placement on the FBI’s Most Wanted list for intrusions into dozens of major corporations—driven not by profit, but by challenge.

Contrary to the sensational portrayal of Mitnick as a malicious cybercriminal, his actions were not intended to cause damage or financial harm. He has consistently maintained that his motivation was intellectual curiosity, competition and the pursuit of proof—what he later described as “trophy hunting”: demonstrating that even the most secure systems could be breached.

Nevertheless, unauthorised access remained a serious offence. Mitnick spent three years evading capture, living under assumed identities and moving between cities before being apprehended in a high-profile arrest. In 1995, he was sentenced to five years in prison, marking the end of a chapter that would later inform his transformation into one of the world’s most influential voices on cybersecurity, hacking ethics and social engineering.