Recap

Computer-Related Topics

Computer security expert Kevin Mitnick touched on a variety of computer- and security-related topics, including OS vulnerabilities and defenses, hacking, and government communication monitoring. Mitnick said all computer operating systems have flaws that can be exploited. If you're connected to the Internet, he explained, you should assume you can be attacked and ask yourself, "What can I do to limit the damage?" Mitnick suggested computer users operate behind a firewall.

Mitnick commented on the recent White House wiretapping story and said while he doesn't agree with the President's actions, he probably would have done the same thing in the interest of national security. He also theorized about how the government could be using sophisticated computers and voice recognition software to monitor all domestic and international communications, though he admitted it's a unlikely scenario.

The world's most famous hacker also talked about script kiddies, cyber-warfare, social engineering, and zero-day exploits, which are software flaws that somebody knows about but keeps secret in order to use them to wreak havoc.

Related Articles

Pacific Ocean Face

Art Bell's first hour guest, researcher Lloyd Stewart Carpenter, is known for his discovery of what appears to be a huge face on the floor of the Pacific Ocean (pictured). According to Carpenter, the geographical features that form the face cover half of the planet and accurately reflect the anatomy of the human head. Click here for more images and further details.