Search: Home Bugtraq Vulnerabilities Mailing Lists Jobs Tools Beta Programs
Mitnick Banned From Security Group
Kevin Poulsen, SecurityFocus 2003-02-13

By all accounts ex-hacker Kevin Mitnick created only a modest stir when he sauntered into the December meeting of the Los Angeles chapter of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA). He sat quietly, paid attention, and at the conclusion of the meeting joined with some of the other 60-odd attendees swapping business cards, chatting with fellow computer security workers and discussing his plans for his new consulting business, Defensive Thinking. "He wasn't flashy at all," recalls one chapter member, who didn't recognize Mitnick until the conclusion of the meeting. "He introduced himself as 'Kevin.'"

Comments Mode:
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-13
Anonymous (3 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-13
Anonymous (3 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-18
Anonymous (1 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-13
Anonymous (3 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-13
Anonymous (1 replies)
No girls allowed. 2003-02-13
<- (1 replies)
No girls allowed. 2003-02-17
Anonymous
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-14
Anonymous (1 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-14
Anonymous (2 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-14
keydet89 (at) yahoo (dot) com [email concealed] (1 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-14
blastfurnas
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-14
Anonymous (2 replies)
This absolutely sucks, but Kevin should be doing a lecture circuit, not attending meetings where people come clean with their vulnerabilities. How do we know he isn't simply applying social engineering for his next conquest? Though he isn't malicious, he is dangerous.

I liken him to a big friendly saint bernard in a china shop. He doesn't mean to cause damage and cost us money, but it could happen if you invite him into your world.

Given the technical nature of the issues brought up at those types of meetings, and Kevins obvious skills with social engineering, and his past, it is easy to imagine him finding it easier than ever, and a little too tempting to play.

I honestly believe that the government demonized him and punished him way too hard on very trumped up charges. He was propaganda fodder.

However, even the very mild reality of the stuff he did, is enough for me to not want to tell him what types of servers I am running, where my vulnerabilites are in my network, etc. I wouldn't even want to give him my work phone.

Most computer professionals are like red riding hood talking to the big bad wolf around him. He could probably get any information he needs out of them *if he wanted to* and didn't tell them who he was.

He may never put that hat back on, but he has in the past, so it is possible...

Kevins place is in teaching and helping people learn more about security, not in helping people to solve real world problems with production equipment. His skills are unmatched but that shadow will follow forever.

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/articles/2403/18177#18177
Mitnick: Show us, don't tell us! 2003-02-16
Anonymous
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-18
chr00t (at) yahoo (dot) com [email concealed]
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-19
Anonymous (1 replies)
Mitnick Banned From Security Group 2003-02-21
Hamster1:)







 

Privacy Statement
Copyright 2009, SecurityFocus