Why did Reuters call Kevin Mitnick a "Computer Terrorist"?

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () bsf-llc com>]

Unbelievable.....

Famed "computer terrorist" teaches anti-hacking 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060308/tc_nm/hacker_dc 

By Rebecca Harrison (rebecca.harrison () reuters com) 1 hour, 10 minutes ago 

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - He can find George Bush  senior's social security
number and Leonardo DiCaprio's mother's maiden name in under 15 seconds, and
led the FBI on a three-year manhunt as he hacked his way into the world's
biggest firms. 

"Computer terrorist" Kevin Mitnick is one of the world's most famous
computer hackers and became a cause celebre after breaking into networks and
stealing software at companies including Sun Microsystems and Motorola.

Now Mitnick, from the United States, travels the world teaching companies
how to guard against people just like him.

He argues that while sophisticated technology can help keep networks clean
from viruses, it is useless if hackers can con a company's employees into
handing over passwords by posing, for example, as colleagues.

"Hackers find the hole in the human firewall," Mitnick told an information
technology security conference on Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"What's the biggest hole? It's the illusion of invulnerability."

"Social engineering" -- as hackers call tricking people -- formed the main
thrust of his career, in which he penetrated some of the world's most
sophisticated systems often by persuading unwitting staff to hand over
top-secret information.

Mitnick, now in his early 40s, started hacking phone systems in his teens
before moving on to computers, but says he never stole money or caused
deliberate damage and hacked just for the thrill of it.

The hobby earned him a place on the FBI's most wanted list and an almost
five-year stint in U.S. jail in the 1990s.

On his release he was initially banned from surfing the Web, and has since
written two books about hacking and started an IT security consulting firm.

Now the companies he once stole secrets from pay him to hack into their
systems and show them how to improve security.

Mitnick said hackers conduct meticulous research into companies and their
staff, even swotting up on the hobbies of target employees to better win
their trust.

And firms underestimate how easily hackers can get hold of personal
information -- like driver's license numbers, social security numbers and
mothers' maiden names -- which are often used by banks or other companies to
screen customers.

To prove it at the conference, he found former U.S. President George Bush's
social security number, driver's license number and the maiden name of
Hollywood actor DiCaprio's mother within 15 seconds.

"The problem is that it is a good human quality to give people the benefit
of the doubt, and unless you've been burned, or you're paranoid, then you
will probably trust them," he said.

Companies must guard against smooth-talking hackers by making their staff
aware of the risks, developing simple company policies on data protection,
and getting the best technology, which will at least "raise the bar" for
hackers.

"It's not about being paranoid, but it's about being very aware, and very
alert," he said. 

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