Computer an 'Umbilical Cord to His Soul': 'Dark Side' Hacker Seen as 'Electronic Terrorist'

John Johnson’s Los Angeles Times profile examines Kevin Mitnick shortly after his early hacking-related arrests, portraying him as consumed by an “umbilical” psychological attachment to computers.

The piece is one of the first mainstream press accounts to cast Mitnick in the “electronic terrorist” framing that would follow him for years, drawing on comments from law enforcement and acquaintances about his behavior and motivations.