Kevin Mitnick is perhaps the most famous hacker in computer history, likely due to his being the first hacker to make the FBI's Most Wanted list. As a master of social engineering, Mitnick didn't just hack computers; he hacked the human mind. In 1979, at the age of 16, he hacked his way into his first computer system and copied proprietary software. He would often engage with admin personnel, such as in phone calls and e-mail messages, and trick them into giving up passwords and other security information. After a two and a half
year pursuit, Mitnick was finally arrested and served five years in prison. He now runs his own computer security consultancy, Mitnick Security Consulting LLC.