A hacker's tale: from most wanted to most needed
Yet he struck fear into the heart of the US Government and corporate America. He was, and remains, America's most notorious cyber criminal, a hacker of great skill who, according to the evidence against him, penetrated some of the most sensitive databases in the world, stole software worth millions of dollars and cost the US Government a fortune before he was caught.
Today, Mr Mitnick is the poacher turned gamekeeper.
Released from prison in January, 2000, he is still banned from using a computer, logging into the Internet, using e-mail or a mobile phone, a prohibition due to be lifted on January 20, 2003 unless, as his supporters suspect it may, the US Government presses further charges against him.