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frontpagephoinix | Staff posted Aug 4, 2026 2:20 PM

Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker (eBook)

$2.00

$13

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Various Digital Retailers have Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker by Kevin Mitnick (eBook) on sale for $1.99.

Thanks to Deal Hunter phoinix for sharing this deal.

Note, must purchase from the available digital retailers

Available Retailers:About this title:
  • Page Length: 433 pages
  • In this "intriguing, insightful and extremely educational" novel, the world's most famous hacker teaches you easy cloaking and counter-measures for citizens and consumers in the age of Big Brother and Big Data (Frank W. Abagnale).
  • Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world's biggest companies -- and no matter how fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. As the FBI's net finally began to tighten, Mitnick went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated game of hide-and-seek that escalated through false identities, a host of cities, and plenty of close shaves, to an ultimate showdown with the Feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff

Original Post

Written by phoinix | Staff
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Various Digital Retailers have Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker by Kevin Mitnick (eBook) on sale for $1.99.

Thanks to Deal Hunter phoinix for sharing this deal.

Note, must purchase from the available digital retailers

Available Retailers:About this title:
  • Page Length: 433 pages
  • In this "intriguing, insightful and extremely educational" novel, the world's most famous hacker teaches you easy cloaking and counter-measures for citizens and consumers in the age of Big Brother and Big Data (Frank W. Abagnale).
  • Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world's biggest companies -- and no matter how fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. As the FBI's net finally began to tighten, Mitnick went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated game of hide-and-seek that escalated through false identities, a host of cities, and plenty of close shaves, to an ultimate showdown with the Feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff

Original Post

Written by phoinix | Staff

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27 Comments

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Aug 4, 2026 2:53 PM
1.4K Comments
Joined Aug 2004
yourlefthandAug 4, 2026 2:53 PM
1.4K Comments

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#rip

I'm just glad my employer switched security training providers so I'm no longer subjected to videos of the ghost of Kevin Mitnick poorly explaining how hacks work.
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Aug 4, 2026 6:27 PM
714 Comments
Joined Dec 2013
rod4400Aug 4, 2026 6:27 PM
714 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank rod4400

Quote from yourlefthand :
#rip

I'm just glad my employer switched security training providers so I'm no longer subjected to videos of the ghost of Kevin Mitnick poorly explaining how hacks work.
I thought his parts were solid, but the company being founded and run by Scientologists was definitely concerning.

This book is great, btw, lots of wild stories. Dude had a knack!
2
Aug 5, 2026 1:56 AM
207 Comments
Joined Dec 2008
lisa788Aug 5, 2026 1:56 AM
207 Comments
One of my favorite books! You can check out the ebook/audiobook free thru Libby.
Aug 5, 2026 2:45 AM
38 Comments
Joined Jun 2005
gibb0901Aug 5, 2026 2:45 AM
38 Comments
I enjoyed this book. Would have enjoyed it even more for this price!
Aug 5, 2026 11:37 AM
1.1K Comments
Joined Feb 2012

This comment has been rated as unhelpful by Slickdeals users.

Aug 5, 2026 12:50 PM
263 Comments
Joined Feb 2016
Mr_SwensonAug 5, 2026 12:50 PM
263 Comments
Quote from yakky :
Screw this guy and criminals like him. It's people like him that made our computers need to get security updates everyday and have 300 processes running before you even do anything. The book isn't even a good read and would feel completely irrelevant if you know anything about security. The only redeeming quality might be nostalgia for the olden days.
To play Devil's Advocate, one could argue that society was lucky Kevin Mitnik was the one who hacked all of these systems. He was, after all, famous for the thrill of it. He never did it for monetary gains. It wasn't until after serving his five-year prison sentence that he gained legitimate monetary success—transitioning into a highly sought-after public speaker, author, and security consultant who ran his own penetration testing firm.

One could argue that it was bound to happen (Murphy's Law) and that anyone else could have caused serious damage.
Aug 5, 2026 2:40 PM
59 Comments
Joined Oct 2020
MemorableCircle6414Aug 5, 2026 2:40 PM
59 Comments
Great book, Audio book is even better. THe beginings of hackers before they were known as hackers.
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Aug 5, 2026 2:41 PM
59 Comments
Joined Oct 2020
MemorableCircle6414Aug 5, 2026 2:41 PM
59 Comments
Quote from Mr_Swenson :
To play Devil's Advocate, one could argue that society was lucky Kevin Mitnik was the one who hacked all of these systems. He was, after all, famous for the thrill of it. He never did it for monetary gains. It wasn't until after serving his five-year prison sentence that he gained legitimate monetary success—transitioning into a highly sought-after public speaker, author, and security consultant who ran his own penetration testing firm.

One could argue that it was bound to happen (Murphy's Law) and that anyone else could have caused serious damage.
Allegedly ! LOL
Aug 5, 2026 3:28 PM
53 Comments
Joined Oct 2006
verscottAug 5, 2026 3:28 PM
53 Comments
Quote from yakky :
Screw this guy and criminals like him. It's people like him that made our computers need to get security updates everyday and have 300 processes running before you even do anything.

The book isn't even a good read and would feel completely irrelevant if you know anything about security. The only redeeming quality might be nostalgia for the olden days.

lol wut
1
Aug 5, 2026 6:15 PM
66 Comments
Joined Jul 2026
LovelySummer4829Aug 5, 2026 6:15 PM
66 Comments
Good find
1
Aug 5, 2026 7:50 PM
634 Comments
Joined Dec 2011
mgeoffriauAug 5, 2026 7:50 PM
634 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank mgeoffriau

Kevin Mitnick's role in advancing the state of computer security can't be denied, but I found this book pretty tiresome. How many times do I need Kevin Mitnick give an "aw shucks, it wasn't that hard, anyone could have figured it out - I just did it first" BS falsely-modest retelling of his exploits? My main takeaway from this book is that Kevin Mitnick loves him some Kevin Mitnick.
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Aug 5, 2026 11:49 PM
40 Comments
Joined May 2014
J-DubzAug 5, 2026 11:49 PM
40 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank J-Dubz

Quote from yakky :
Screw this guy and criminals like him. It's people like him that made our computers need to get security updates everyday and have 300 processes running before you even do anything.

The book isn't even a good read and would feel completely irrelevant if you know anything about security. The only redeeming quality might be nostalgia for the olden days.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? It's $2...

This book is documented events of social engineering in a timeline when computer security was non-existent. Kevin's ability to break into old dial up systems by phreaking telecommunication systems is the exact reason we CAN prosecute criminals. He is the reason there is a access prohibited message on every router because there was no legal prescience to penalize cyber criminals so you're welcome.

This book is in fact a great read keep in mind it was published in 2011 but tells stories from 1992, but being constantly chased by the FBI, posing as a detective using fake credentials at the State Registrar for Vital Statistics then walking away with 50 state sealed BLANK birth certificates. Eventually getting caught, thrown into prison only for the US Marshall to tell you you got booted out and moved because we didnt have legal structure to properly prosecute.

I doubt you read this book because his adventures were quite fascinating. As far as a criminal, well he was not selling a ponzi scheme like Bernie Madhoff or stealing money from people like Enron or dumping hazardous microplastics in our ponds and lakes like Dupont. So if you think he ruined computers for you, I have an ice bridge to sell you.

For anyone else, its $2, its a good read.

"the Feds had also found Netcom's customer database that contained more than 20,000 credit card numbers on my computer, but I had never attempted to use any of them; no prosecutor would ever be able to make a case against me on that score. I have to admit, I had liked the idea that I could use a different credit card every day for the rest of my life without ever running out. But I'd never had any intention of running up charges on them, and never did. That would be wrong. My trophy was a copy of Netcom's customer database. Why is that so hard to understand? Hackers and gamers get it instinctively. Anyone who loves to play chess knows that it's enough to defeat your opponent. You don't have to loot his kingdom or seize his assets to make it worthwhile." ~ Kevin D. Mitnick, Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker
Last edited by J-Dubz August 5, 2026 at 04:52 PM.
1
Aug 6, 2026 3:29 AM
1.1K Comments
Joined Dec 2012
bansh77Aug 6, 2026 3:29 AM
1.1K Comments
Had no idea he passed.
Aug 6, 2026 5:34 PM
714 Comments
Joined Dec 2013
rod4400Aug 6, 2026 5:34 PM
714 Comments
Quote from yakky :
Screw this guy and criminals like him. It's people like him that made our computers need to get security updates everyday and have 300 processes running before you even do anything.

The book isn't even a good read and would feel completely irrelevant if you know anything about security. The only redeeming quality might be nostalgia for the olden days.
Security by obscurity isn't security at all. Wishing upon a star that bad actors don't break your security is a much worse strategy than the one this guy's (thankfully innocuous) actions led the world towards.
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Aug 7, 2026 2:05 AM
34 Comments
Joined Jun 2018
smolenskylawAug 7, 2026 2:05 AM
34 Comments
Adding this to my list of books to read. Thanks!

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