 | Mitnick is the most famous computer hacker in the world. Since his
first arrest in 1981, at age 17, he has spent nearly half his adult
life either in prison or as a fugitive. He has been the subject of
three books and his alleged 1982 hack into NAD inspired the movie War
Games. Since his plea-bargain release in 2000, he says he has reformed
and is devoting his talents to helping computer security. It's not
clear whether this book is a means toward that end or a, wink-wink,
fictionalized account of his exploits, with his name changed to protect
his parole terms. Either way, it's a tour de force, a series of tales
of how some old-fashioned blarney and high-tech skills can pry any
information from anyone. As entertainment, it's like reading the
climaxes of a dozen complex thrillers, one after the other. |
As a security education, it's a great series of cautionary tales;
however, the advice to employees not to give anyone their passwords is
bland compared to the depth and energy of Mitnick's descriptions of how
he actually hacked into systems. As a manual for a would-be hacker,
it's dated and nonspecific better stuff is available on the Internet
but it teaches the timeless spirit of the hack. Between the lines, a
portrait emerges of the old-fashioned hacker stereotype: a socially
challenged, obsessive loser addicted to an intoxicating sense of power
that comes only from stalking and spying. The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of SecurityEnglish Format: PDF Format 366 pages Wiley; New Ed edition (October 17, 2003) ISBN-10: 076454280X 843 KB
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