Ghost in the Wires

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What to expect

Kevin Mitnick, the world’s most wanted computer hacker, managed to hack into some of the country’s most powerful—and seemingly impenetrable—agencies and companies. By conning employees into giving him private information and maneuvering through layers of security, he gained access to data that no one else could.

The suspenseful heart of the book unfolds as Mitnick disappears on a three-year run from the FBI. He creates fake identities, finds jobs at a law firm and hospital, and keeps tabs on his myriad pursuers—all while continuing to hack into computer systems and phone company switches that were considered flawless.

A modern, technology-driven adventure story, Ghost in the Wires is a dramatic account of the joy of outsmarting security programs, the satisfaction of code cracking, and the thrill of unbelievable escape.

Critics Review

  • “Intriguing, insightful, and extremely educational into the mind of one who truly mastered the art of social engineering with the use of a computer and modern-day technologies. I strongly believe that one can learn a great deal about protecting themselves once they understand how another one perpetrates the crime.”

    Frank W. Abagnale, author of Catch Me If You Can
  • “Mitnick’s sense of humor is evident as he recounts his adventures…For those interested in computer history, Ghost in the Wires is a nostalgia trip to the quaint old days before hacking (and hackers) turned so malicious and financially motivated.”

    New York Times
  • “It’s the piquant human element that really animates this rollicking memoir of high-tech skullduggery…The considerable charm of this nonstop caper saga lies in seeing the giant, faceless bureaucracies that rule and regulate us unmasked as assemblages of hapless people dancing to a plucky con man’s tune.”

    Publishers Weekly book review
  • “Ray Porter’s narration is direct and has a determined edge that captures Mitnick’s mindset as he hacks into computer systems despite the consequences. Porter’s narration also contains a slight nasal tone that—for good or for ill—recalls the cliché of a nerdy computer hacker. Throughout this audio edition, Porter keeps the story moving at an engaging pace.”

    Publishers Weekly audio review
  • “A lucid, brightly written tale for both techies and lay readers.”

    Kirkus Reviews
  • Ghost in the Wires reads like a contemporary über-geeky thriller…A nostalgia trip to the quaint old days before hacking (and hackers) turned so malicious and financially motivated.”

    New York Times Book Review

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