The fugitive game
by Jonathan Littman · first published 1996
78% recommend22% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Narrative account of Kevin Mitnick's hacking and pursuit, often judged more accurate and engaging than other Mitnick books; a favorite for readers of hacker history who want a gripping, well-told story.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Kevin David Mitnick was cyberspace's most wanted hacker. Mitnick could launch missiles or cripple the world's financial markets with a single phone call - or so went the myth. The FBI, phone companies, bounty hunters, even fellow hackers pursued him over the Internet and through cellular airways. But while Mitnick's alleged crimes have been widely publicized, his story has never been told. Now Jonathan Littman takes us into the mind of a serial hacker. Drawing on over fifty hours of telephone conversations with Mitnick on the run, Littman reveals Mitnick's double life; his narrow escapes; his
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I can't speak to "Ghost in the Wires", however a book that contemporaneous to "Takedown" that does a better job, I think, is "The Fugitive Game", by Johnathan Littman: https://www.amazon.com/Fugitive-Game-Online-Kevin-Mitnick/dp...
on “Takedown (1995)” ↗…probably the last person around who's dedicated to maintaining it. She would have made a lot of money doing it, but the work itself looked to be soul draining, so she skipped it fpr pther opportunities "The Fugitive Game" by Jonathan Littman documents the story of Kevin Mitnick, the so-called most wanted hacker alive. Certainly has some surprises and is a fun read. Pretty much anything by Norbert Wiener regarding cybernetics…
on “Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?” ↗…But I'd suggest following up by reading other related titles, especially regarding Kevin Mitnick) Ghost in the Wires - Mitnick (Mitnick's autogiography, basically) Takedown - Shimomura & Markoff The Fugitive Game - Littman (of the books written about Mitnick, but not by Mitnick, this one has a reputation for being a little more "pro Kevin" whereas a couple of the others are sort of pointedly "anti Kevin" in their…
on “Ask HN: What are some must read books?” ↗Ah, I've not heard of The Fugitive Game. I will read it. It's not that I think Shimomura is a bad guy or anything, it's just...the writing is very dry for me.
on “Takedown (1995)” ↗…Mitnick was (but not at the same prison), and in about 1997, Justin Petersen (Agent Steal) showed up at the prison I was at, and we got to know each other well. He's one of the other main figures in The Fugitive Game, and he said this book was probably the most accurate of the several books about the Mitnick/Poulsen/Petersen story. I read the book in prison one night and I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
on “Takedown (1995)” ↗Like the other comment in this thread, I've read all three and think The Fugitive Game is my favorite. It was definitely an enthralling read. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend The Watchman, also by Littman, but about Kevin Poulsen.
on “Takedown (1995)” ↗…several key persons to be involved in or have siginficant knowledge of many different activities. A must have to include in your library along with other staples such as Cuckoo's Egg, Masters of Deception, Fugitive Game, and Hacker Crackdown. However, like the other books noted, there are apt to be a few points that persons will take exception too with regard to accuracy.
on “Ask HN: Recommendations of good cybercrime novels?” ↗Kevin's side of the story has been told by him, by Littman in 'The Fugitive Game' and by Eric Corley. Any reasonably broad-minded person who wants to see the law deal evenhandedly with the accused can find places in these accounts to sympathize with Kevin. 'Takedown' is AFAICT the…
on “Why Kevin Mitnick Is Still Breaking into Computers” ↗I seem to have gotten rid of my copy of Takedown, but Jonathan Littman writes in The Fugitive Game, paraphrasing John Markoff: "...Shimomura was sitting in the passenger seat of a Raleigh Sprint technician's car, holding a cellular-frequency direction-finding antenna, and watching a 'signal-strength…
on “How a Hacker Proved Cops Used a Stingray to Find Him” ↗