Kevin David Mitnick (born on August 6, 1963) is a computer security consultant, author, and hacker. In the late 20th century, he was convicted of various computer- and communications-related crimes. 

At the time of his arrest, he was the most-wanted computer criminal in the United States.

At age 12, Mitnick used social engineering to bypass the punchcard system used in the Los Angeles bus system. After a friendly bus driver told him where he could buy his own ticket punch, he could ride any bus in the greater LA area using unused transfer slips he found in the trash. Social engineering became his primary method of obtaining information, including user names and passwords and modem phone numbers.