Hacker pursued by FBI and tech firms became friends with network administrator he targeted

Kevin Mitnick, a name synonymous with hacking in the 1990s, was once the most notorious cybercriminal, relentlessly pursued by the FBI and feared by major technology firms. His exploits defined an era as the internet and cybercrime were rapidly evolving.

Shawn Nunley, a network administrator at the tech company Novell, found himself unexpectedly entangled in Mitnick's schemes. Novell, a key player in corporate IT infrastructure with its NetWare system, was a prime target for hackers seeking to understand and exploit network security. Mitnick, who had been fascinated by technology since childhood and began with phone phreaking, had set his sights on corporate networks.

One evening, Nunley received a call from someone claiming to be a Novell employee needing urgent access to the company's internal network. The caller, using a carefully constructed story about a secret project and a hotel in Vail, impersonated another employee. This impersonation was part of Mitnick's elaborate plan, which involved prior reconnaissance.

Mitnick's methods were detailed and sophisticated. He had previously obtained Novell's voicemail system password by deceiving a telecommunications employee. This access allowed him to alter the voicemail message of the employee he intended to impersonate, further solidifying his deception. He also persuaded another engineer to provide a compressed copy of data, demonstrating a pattern of meticulous social engineering.