Takedown by tsutomu shimomura, john markoff kirkus. After learning about this new book from jonathan littman, i emailed the author for sources of more information. But tsutomu shimomura s writing apparently not assisted enough by john markoff is somewhat dull. Computer security expert based in the united states that tracked down and help the fbi arrest kevin mitnick. The following passage is taken from wi red magazine, which sets up the series of events that lead to the chase and capture of kevin. Mitnick attack on shimomura computer security a brief look.
The kevin mitnicktsutomu shimomura affair case study, n. Takedown, his 1996 book on the subject with journalist john markoff, was later adapted for the screen in track down in 2000 shimomura was a founder of semiconductor company neofocal systems, and. Mitnick was also featured in the movie the takedown2000 based on the book takedown. Shimomura is a true original, a rollerblading, cross country skiing, bicycle wheel repairing free spirit who has carved his own path as a cyper security expert despite never even graduating from high school. Tsutomu shimomura is an american physicist and computer security expert. The pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick by the man. I just finished reading takedown by tsutomu shimomura and john markoff. From a military computer to fbi and dmv records, mitnick could weasel his. The book tells how kevin mitnick, a notorious phone phreak and cracker, deliberately broke into shimomura s computers and stole his files. The story of the christmas day, 1994 attack on tsutomu shimomura and the events that unfolded following that attack may provide a behindthe scenes look at an internetbased computer crime unfortunately, the type of crime we can expect to see more and more in the future. Every nefarious motive in the book has been behind crimes ranging from petty theft all the way up to important matters of national security.
Tsutomu shimomura is a japaneseborn american physicist and computer security expert. Although many cyberrivalries are intense, not many of them are packed with enough drama to fuel a fulllength feature film. Tsutomu shimomura books list of books by author tsutomu. Computer security expert tsutomu shimomura shetoemoo. Tsutomu shimomura tsutomu shimomura is a senior fellow at the san diego supercomputer center, where he works on problems in areas as diverse as computational physics and computer security. Shimomura decided to take his own revenge by using his. Takedown, based on the reallife events described in the novel by tsutomu shimomura, is a story about masterhacker kevin mitnick skeet ulrich and his struggle with the fbi. Still, this example opens a brand new perspective of seeing the issue. The pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick, americas most wanted computer outlawby. Mitnick hacks into government adviser tsutomu shimomuras russell wong computer and steals some information from this man. But tsutomu shimomuras writing apparently not assisted enough by john markoff is somewhat dull. As gripping as a great mystery novel but true and as important as any book on computer security but eminently readable by anyone. That set the stage for a classic showdown, although shimomura did get a lot of help along the way.
Takedown recounts the story from the point of view of tsutomu shimomura with john markoff. The twisted life and crimes of serial hacker kevin poulsen. The pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick, americas most wanted computer outlaw by the man who did it by. But the 1995 showdown between hacker kevin mitnick and security consultant tsutomo shimomura did just that, spawning first the nonfiction book and then the. His downfall was his christmas 1994 breakin to tsutomu shimomuras computers in san diego, california. The book is based on a true story where shimomura claims that he did catch the kevin mitnick himself and he was the center point of this whole cat and mouse run but trust me he was not and i found that out just by reading his book. The ego of author tsutomu shimomura has been discussed in various online newletters, but i found the pursuit of kevin mitnick facinating. Kevin mitnick was a hacker on the run from the law, and heard that shimomura had found a vulnerability in cell phones. Shimomura tells how he gained instant celebrity by helping the fbi nab famed hacker kevin mitnick. Still, just like in the movies, sometimes in the end there is just one lone hero taking a stand who makes all the difference. Takedown, the pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick. The case of the kung fu phreak did kevin mitnick really trashtalk his hunter, tsutomu shimomura, about his kung fu ability. The topic of the kevin mitnicktsutomu shimomura affair is quite often seen among the tasks in high school. The true story of how kevin mitnick was snagged by computer security expert tsutomu shimomura.
Kevin david mitnick born august 6, 1963 is an american computer security consultant, author and hacker, best known for his highprofile 1995 arrest and later five years in prison for various computer and communicationsrelated crimes. A film version of takedown is in postproduction, according to a spokesman for. Led by computer whiz tsutomu shimomura, neofocal raises. Takedown, his 1996 book on the subject with journalist john markoff, was. The pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick, americas most wanted computer outlawby the man who did it, and takedown, and more on. Legendary cracker kevin mitnick had violated one company too many hacker tsutomu shimomuras. Yet the storys final irony is that this game isnt the one that matters most. He made it his mission to catch kevin mitnick, and was. Kevin mitnick project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Mitnick himself put a seal on that image with his courtroom comment to shimomura.
The pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick, americas most wanted computer outlaw by the man who did it 7 published in 1996 by tsutomu shimomura. Computer security expert tsutomu shimomura shares his book, takedown about his pursuit of hacker kevin mitnick. Markoffs friend, tsutomu shimomura, claimed that mitnick had hacked his home computer on christmas day, 1994, and went after him, with markoff in tow. Takedown recounts the story from the point of view of tsutomu shimomura with. The pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick, americas most wanted. The book is based on a true story where shimomura claims that he did catch the kevin mitnick himself and he was the centre point of. An ok book about the hunt for kevin mitnick the legendary computer hacker.
With skeet ulrich, russell wong, angela featherstone, donal logue. He came to the university of california at san diego in 1989 to join the physics department as a research. Kevin mitnick was the fbis most wanted hacker in the 90s. Shimomura and new york times reporter john markoff collaborated on a book about mitnicks capture, takedown. See all books authored by tsutomu shimomura, including takedown. Kevin mitnick, americas most wanted computer outlaw, eluded the police, us marshalls, and fbi for over two years after vanishing while on probation for his 1989 conviction for computer and access device fraud. The fugitive game introduces kevin mitnick moments before the fugitive hacker surrenders himself to fbi agents who have located him with the help of the socalled cybersleuth, tsutomu shimomura. As gripping as a great mystery novel but true and as. This film is based on the story of the capture of computer hacker kevin mitnick. Sdsc research fellow tsutomu shimomura describes take down of kevin mitnick a series of events in the life of tsutomu shimomura, a computer security expert and senior research fellow at the san diego supercomputer center, has provided material for the plot of a recently released book authored by shimomura and new york times technology reporter. Shimomura electronically tracked mitnick to his raleigh, north carolina hideout in february, 1995, and sold the book and movie rights for an undisclosed sum amidst the storm of publicity following.
Shimomura was one of kevin mitnicks hacking victims. Today, shimomura is still working with advanced technology albeit in a much. The prologue to jonathan littmans book kicks off with the epic climax that came to tantalize movie producers and video game designers and launch magazine covers worldwide. Two decades ago, tsutomu shimomura made headlines for helping the fbi track down computer hacker kevin mitnick. He lost weight at the ymca, read computer books at tattered cover and wore pebbles in his. He is known for helping the fbi track and arrest hacker kevin mitnick. October 23, 1964, nagoya, japan computerrelated contributions.
He of course advised that i purchase his two books on the kevins. Mitnick then performed a legendary modified maninthemiddle attack shimomuras computer system to obtain the data from shimomuras computer. Mitnick eventually targeted tsutomu shimomura as the guy with the tools. I decided to read this book after having read a book called ghost in the wires, written by kevin mitnick, the notorious computer hacker who was apprehended in 1995. If you mean the hacks in 1994 i dont know of any recent hacks.
Back in the days when mitnick was a blackhat hacker, he hacked computersecurity expert, tsutomu shimomura. The kevin mitnicktsutomu shimomura affair case study. The pursuit and capture of kevin mitnick, americas most wanted computer outlaws by the man who did it by tsutomu. Tsutomu shimomura when kevin was on the run for his illegal activity from the fbi, he made the mistake of angering a fellow cybergenius, tsutomu shimomura, which allowed him to be caught. Tsutomu shimomura books, tech air date 01231996 computer security expert tsutomu shimomura shares his book, takedown about his pursuit of hacker kevin mitnick. Markoff, a san franciscobased reporter, made shimomura an overnight sensation with frontpage stories in the new york times. He hacked it to get to the oki source code reverse enginered by tsutomu and mark lottor. But the 1995 showdown between hacker kevin mitnick and security consultant tsutomo shimomura did just that, spawning first the nonfiction book and then the straighttodvd movie release takedown hey, nobody said it was a good film. Given all of the hype surrounding the capture of kevin mitnick much of it created and sustained by the authors of this book, one would at least expect the version provided by the man who did it to be entertaining.
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