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By Root 743 0

my mom and Gram were always there for me, especially in my times of need. This book would not have been possible without my wonderful family, who have given me so much unconditional love and support throughout my life. I am so fortunate to have been raised by such a loving and dedicated mother, whom I also consider my best friend. My mom is such an amazing person. She would give the shirt off her back to help out another person who needed it. My mom truly cares about other people, even to the point of sacrificing her own self-interest much of the time. My Gram is another truly amazing person. She taught me the value of hard work and preparing for the future, by teaching me proper money management like saving for a rainy day. For my entire life, she has been like a second mom to me, giving me so much love and support, and always being there for me regardless of my mischievous adventures.

In December 2008, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer and has been suffering greatly from the effects of chemotherapy and the illness itself. I didn’t realize how much time I had wasted being away from my mom until this tragedy happened. As caring and compassionate people, both my mom and Gram taught me the principles of caring about others and lending a helping hand to the less fortunate. And so, by imitating their pattern of giving and caring, I, in a sense, follow the paths of their lives. I hope they’ll forgive me for dedicating so much time to writing this book, passing up chances to play cards or watch videos with them because of work and deadlines to meet. I still feel deep regret for all the stress, nervousness, and aggravation I caused them while I was involved with my hacking adventures and the aftermath following my arrest. Now that I’ve turned my life around and continue to make positive contributions to the world, I hope this book will bring much happiness to my mother’s and grandmother’s hearts and erase some of the memories of the negative experiences described in these pages.

How I wish my dad, Alan Mitnick, and my half brother, Adam Mitnick, would have lived long enough to break open a bottle of champagne with me on the day my memoir appears in the bookstores. Although my dad and I had a difficult time living together as father and son, we had lots of great times, too, especially taking his boat out for fishing trips in and around the Channel Islands in Oxnard, California. More important, my dad provided me with love and respect and gave me a great deal of support while I was riding the rough road through the Federal criminal justice system. He joined other volunteers from 2600 magazine when they picketed several Federal courthouses to protest the government’s handling of my case. A few weeks before I was released from custody, he suffered a mild heart attack. Tragically, his health rapidly deteriorated after he acquired a serious staph infection during his surgery and then turned out to have lung cancer, as well. He passed away a year and a half after I was released. I didn’t realize how much time I had lost with my father until he wasn’t around anymore.

My aunt Chickie Leventhal has always been there for me, especially when I really needed her most. When FBI agents searched my apartment in Calabasas in late 1992 while I was working for Teltec Investigations, she contacted a close attorney friend of hers, John Yzurdiaga, who generously provided legal advice and eventually represented me pro bono, along with his partner Richard Steingard. Whenever I need advice or a place to stay in Manhattan Beach, she is always there offering her love and support. I cannot forget her longtime boyfriend, Dr. Bob Berkowitz, who has been like an uncle to me, always willing to talk with me whenever I need advice.

My cousin Trudy Spector was so kind and generous in allowing my mom and grandmother to stay in her home whenever they would commute to Los Angeles to visit me. She also allowed me to stay at her place before I decided to disappear after my supervised release had expired. I wish she could have had the opportunity to read these