Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker
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Summary
Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world's biggest companies and however fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. He spent years skipping through cyberspace, always three steps ahead and labeled unstoppable. But for Kevin, hacking wasn't just about technological feats it was an old fashioned confidence game that required guile and deception to trick the unwitting out of valuable information.
This book is like denying the existence of a river in Egypt, complete with ego, alternative names for actions (social engineering = scamming), and a lack of remorse. Mitnick paints himself as a genius who was tormented by laws and a government that just couldn't grasp his brilliance. I persevered through the entire book hoping that he would eventually accept responsibility and recognize that his hacking addiction led to all of his troubles. Unfortunately, that never happened. He sees himself as above the law because he insists that he never profited from his hacking skills. If you choose to believe a man who takes pleasure in his deceitful acts, maybe that's true. However, he unquestionably deserved every moment of the time he spent behind bars.
This guy finds breaking the law entertaining...and then has the audacity to gripe about the unfairness of facing the consequences. He's intelligent, but it's evident that he lacks a grasp on the concept of irony.
This individual comes off as a complaining child, full of self-importance and excessively self-centered. I managed to finish the book swiftly solely because I yearned for a more sensible read.
Ray Porter deserves major props for bringing Kevin Mitnick's captivating tale to life in "Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker." With Porter's narration, Mitnick's intricate narrative about outsmarting tech giants simply for the thrill comes alive. Mitnick's insatiable curiosity, unwavering determination, and massive ego make for a potent combination that enabled him to accomplish what he did (i.e., engaging in illegal activities and disrespecting others' rights and privacy).
While the writing may not be exceptional, Mitnick's audacity remains utterly fascinating. Equally shocking is the sheer gullibility of people, without which Mitnick's exploits would not have been possible. It's striking to see how easily individuals are swayed into believing the words of someone they perceive as truthful.
However, the person deceived the most by Mitnick's antics is none other than Mitnick himself. Behind the façade of caring about others and justifying his hacking activities, he reveals his true self-centered and egotistical nature. It's clear that he firmly believes he is superior to everyone else.
I'm currently halfway through the book, but I doubt I'll be able to finish it. Mitnick comes across as an absolute jerk, and I don't think his story deserves any praise.
As someone with a background in IT, I had high hopes for 'Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker'. However, I found myself in the minority as I couldn't bring myself to finish it. The book seemed to follow the theme of "poor poor pitiful me," much like the lyrics of a song. The constant repetition of the term "socially engineered" became grating to the point where I had to stop listening altogether. The majority of the first half of the book focuses on hacking telephone companies, which quickly became monotonous. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book. While 'Catch me if you can' isn't my favorite, it was a more enjoyable listen in comparison.
I found the story to be quite captivating at the beginning and was quickly drawn into it. However, as I progressed through the second half, it started to lose its momentum and became rather monotonous. Despite that, I was determined to stick with it because I was curious about how everything would be resolved. Nonetheless, it was a bit of a struggle to stay engaged, unlike other books that I simply can't put down.
As the story unfolded, my opinion of the writer/main character took a nosedive. Initially, I found them intriguing, but eventually, their blatant disregard for the law became too much for me to tolerate. I actually found myself hoping for the moment when they would finally face the consequences of their actions.
Furthermore, there were numerous technical details that went over my head. Admittedly, I'm not exactly a tech-savvy person, so it's possible that I'm not the intended audience for this book.
Overall, I found the book to be interesting, but I couldn't bring myself to support or root for such an egotistical criminal.
On a side note, I must commend the narrator for doing a fantastic job with the material they were given. However, I do wish they had shown more range when it came to portraying characters other than the main one.
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