One of the most notorious hackers during the early widespread internet usage, Kevin Mitnick, has recently passed away due to pancreatic cancer, as confirmed by a spokeswoman to a company he partly owned, KnowBe4. Despite being an outlaw and branded as a criminal in his early days, Mitnick transformed himself to dedicating his life to cybersecurity awareness and sharing his stories as a dedicated author. 

Kevin Mitnick: Starting as the Most Prolific Hackers of the World

The life of Kevin Mitnick (born August 6, 1963) shows the world that dedication is a significant power to do anything, from living in the criminal world to helping people improve their defenses in the technology industry. Here is his life's story. 

1980s-1990s

According to The New York Times, Mitnick started with notorious deeds in the early days of the internet, first hacking into corporate systems including Pacific Bell in the 1980s and obtaining essential passwords, initially facing the law and incarceration.

It did not stop there. Mitnick went as far as to hack several tech moguls in Silicon Valley and other people via the young internet, obtaining as much as 20,000 credit card information. 

He was branded as the most notorious hacker, and since 1993, spent a good two years being a fugitive from the law and its enforcers using FBI wiretaps to evade their efforts. The famed computer savant ran in trouble with fellow hacker, Tsutomu Shimomura, saying he violated the codes of the online community.

Shimomura decided to help law enforcement officials in tracking down Mitnick with his skills on the computer. 

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1995 and his Incarceration

Mitnick was ultimately caught in mid-1995 and was sentenced to five years in prison, despite having no evidence of using it for his gain.

As a 'black hat' hacker, Mitnick only did it for fun, showcasing his skills and showing the extent of the computer and the internet's power. 

Reformation and Dedication to Cybersecurity Knowledge

Kevin Mitnick's time in prison reformed him and made him see the world in a different view, seeing a release in 2000 into the new decade. It was deemed by the court that he is not to use computers or phones for three years, and he turn away from his life of crime. 

According to Gizmodo, Mitnick dedicated his life to public speaking, being an author where he published memoirs and educated the public, and working as a 'white hat' cybersecurity expert. 

The now-reformed professional also established the successful Mitnick Security Consulting, as part of his efforts to make computers and the internet a safer place. In 2011, Mitnick joined the ranks of KnowBe4 as its Chief Hacking Officer which he also partially owned. 

According to WIRED in 2014, Mitnick also offered high-end zero-day exploits from his business, offering customers to use a system that has no patches or fixes yet existing. 

The Future of Cybersecurity in the World

Mitnick's efforts have made him one of the most prolific hackers, both black and white hat, but turned out to be one of the most influential cultural figures on the internet. After battling his cancer for 14 months, Mitnick was released this year by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as stated in the statement. 

Kevin Mitnick passed away last July 16, at the age of 59, but while many may see him as one of the most elusive hackers of all time, he will be forever remembered for his efforts in improving the cybersecurity industry. 

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