Cyberhero


	Thanks to Tsutomu Shimomura, what began with a computer break-in ended up in an arrest of America's most wanted hacker. (Photograph by Rick Smolan )

ince November 1992, Kevin Mitnick, the notorious "Dark Side Hacker," made his mark on computer security systems everywhere, worming his way into telephone and security networks and vandalizing government, corporate, and university systems. At one count, it was estimated that Kevin had access to at least 20,000 credit card numbers and thousands of data files from systems he had broken into. Though he committed his crimes on the Internet, the threat posed by Kevin's hacking spree was very real.

For two years, FBI agents scoured the information superhighway in search of what they called "the world's most wanted hacker," but Kevin eluded them at every turn. Then, on Christmas Day 1995, Kevin made a fatal flaw: He broke into the electronic files of computer security expert Tsutomu Shimomura, a researcher at the federally financed San Diego Supercomputer Center.

A strong believer in the integrity of the Internet and an advocate of Net users' right to privacy, Tsutomu was determined to unveil the intruder. Less than two months after the initial electronic break-in, Tsutomu had tracked the intruder to Netcom, where he analyzed the traffic data and narrowed the search further. Finally, after carefully conducting technical forensic work, Tsutomu was able to lead the FBI to the apartment complex in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the hacker was operating. There, in the wee hours of February 15, 1995, the FBI conducted a sting operation, using a signal tracking device and Tsutomu's help to pinpoint the exact apartment. Shortly after they knocked on the door, Kevin's hands were off the keyboard and in cuffs. At his prearraignment hearing the next day, Kevin turned to Tsutomu, whom he had never before met face to face. "Hello, Tsutomu," Mitnick said, "I respect your skills."

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