AT&T Tells Hacker to Find Cell Service Elsewhere

[JMcEntegart]

AT&T has reportedly told celebrity hacker Kevin Mitnick that the company can no longer offer him cell phone service because of the inordinate amount of attacks on his cell phone account.

AT&T Tells Hacker to Find Cell Service Elsewhere : Read more

 

[cruiseoveride]

So basically any AT&T customer is not safe

 

[mlopinto2k1]

I still don't know who Kevin Mitnick is. Anyway, get a life, Kevin!

 

[pullmyfinger123]

anyone see the irony that a hacker is complaining about his privacy being invaded?

 

[Niva]

The truth is that nobody's safe, Mitnick has made himself a target simply by notoriety. I do think his claims are legit though in the sense that these companies claim to offer secure services. Rather than attempt to live up to their promises they're cutting their ties with him. It's like a bodyguard not doing the job he was hired for because the opposition looks too tough. Rather cowardly move on their part, but can one really blame them other than the ethical aspects of the situation? Those companies have to make money and maintaining this security is simply too expensive for them.

Unfortunately, this could happen to anyone who becomes a target, so don't rejoice in the irony of it because it could happen to you too.

 

[tenor77]

[citation][nom]mlopinto2k1[/nom]I still don't know who Kevin Mitnick is. Anyway, get a life, Kevin![/citation]

Epic fail on reading the article

 

[hellwig]

[citation][nom]Niva[/nom]It's like a bodyguard not doing the job he was hired for because the opposition looks too tough.[/citation]
No no no. The average person hires a body guard to protect them from potential danger from an unknown individual. Mitnick hires a bodyguard because he happens to know the entire army of Uzbeckistan is after him. At some point, the body guard just says "look, if you are going to piss off foreign militaries, you better have your own military to back you up."

Most bodyguards are just there to look intimidating. Most won't die for a client that paid them $500 for the night, its just not worth it. You want real protection, you have to pay for it. Mitnick has chosen a path in life that attracts many enemies, he needs to be responsible for his own security.

This would be like buying a winter jacket at Lands End, then complaining that it doesn't stop bullets. I don't recall AT&T and HostedHere ever promising they could stop legions of hackers all trying to make a name for themselves just because some jackass ex-hacker pays for cell phone service and basic web hosting.

 

[jellico]

Oh brother. He should know he'll always have a huge target on his back. This is a simple problem to solve, too. Just use someone else (and not a family member with the same last name) to setup his mobile account in their name. Or, better yet for people like him, purchase a pre-paid cell phone with cash, and likewise buy the time cards with cash.

But instead he's whining like a punk and hiring lawyers?! And this guy used to be "the most dangerous hacker in America"? How the mighty have fallen.

 

[Platypus]

[citation][nom]Niva[/nom]don't rejoice in the irony of it because it could happen to you too.[/citation]
I think you're missing the definition of "irony." It's slightly ironic that a hacker is getting hacked, but it's extremely ironic that this hacker is complaining about being unable to protect his information.

If this happened to me, it wouldn't really be ironic because I am not a hacker. I'd just be another number.

 

[Dax corrin]

I cant wait till that freaking self-expanding gate.com ad goes away forever. If I want to know more, I'll expand it myself. I know one thig for sure, I won't buy any services they provide now for sure.

 

[Greg_77]

As a notorious ex-hacker who hacked cellular service company servers, he really shouldn't be complaining to a cellular service company....

 

[socrates047]

i love how tom's readers are so analytical. Really awesome stuff. it makes me feel smarter just being on this website!

 

[grieve]

[citation][nom]jellico[/nom]Or, better yet for people like him, purchase a pre-paid cell phone with cash, and likewise buy the time cards with cash.But instead he's whining like a punk and hiring lawyers?! And this guy used to be "the most dangerous hacker in America"? How the mighty have fallen.[/citation]

No doubt!

As you mentioned a pre-paid cell would solve this instantly. I think he has choosen this route for another reason.... Only Mitnik knows.

 

[Major7up]

[citation][nom]tenor77[/nom]Epic fail on reading the article[/citation]
Agreed.

 

[nun]

nice job at&t for telling us your network isn't safe

 

[jab416171]

If you're Barack Obama, you don't get webhosting at GoDaddy.

Ouch, what's with the godaddy shun?

 

[hemelskonijn]

Big kevin should contact me so i could fix him up with premium services.
No one can guarantee that his account wont be hacked and or abused but at least i can guarantee that i kick any paying customer just because i might get ddos'd more.
At least when he hires one of my dedicated or virtual boxes i might actually have something to do during office hours other then playing world of warcraft and getting fancy lunches for potential clients.

 

[hemelskonijn]

Oops that i wont kick any paying customer ... typo late at night

 

[LORD_ORION]

Heh, clearly someone is leaking his info from inside the company... how could someone get his account info without that happening? He has a pretty valid point though, regardless of how much of a high profile target he is... AT&T can't protect your info, and obviously they don't give a damn or they would do something about it.

 

[okibrian]

[citation][nom]pullmyfinger123[/nom]anyone see the irony that a hacker is complaining about his privacy being invaded?[/citation]
Right! I guess it is true that what goes around comes aroound.

 

[Robert17]

Perhaps, just perhaps, there's no real need for him to have a phone of any kind. With as many people wanting a piece of him as alluded to, you'd think he'd prefer being a hermit. Even his physical USPS mailbox must be jammed with hate/spam mail. Get rid of it too.

 

[surrept420]

Where is the respect from hackers towards other hackers, especially one of his stature. How rude.

 

[Guest]

Überhacker though he may be, does he have the skills to get all the bullshit ATT apps off his phone? I would pay good money for that.

 

[captaincharisma]

talk about lazy. AT&T says its too hard to secure him on the network so there taking the easy way out. take note that any of the Iphone sheep could be next

 

[captaincharisma]

[citation][nom]Platypus[/nom]I think you're missing the definition of "irony." It's slightly ironic that a hacker is getting hacked, but it's extremely ironic that this hacker is complaining about being unable to protect his information.If this happened to me, it wouldn't really be ironic because I am not a hacker. I'd just be another number.[/citation]

how would you expect the hacker to protect himself on AT&T's network? illegally hack into AT&T's network and do it himself and risk getting caught? or try doing it the legal way by letting the GED level techs that AT&T hires and let them do it for him since its the only legal way.