Mitnick get ham ticket back

[hal]

A man the federal government once labeled "the most wanted computer 
criminal in U.S. history" has won a long fight to renew his ham radio 
license and next month can resume surfing the Internet.

Kevin Mitnick, 39, of Thousand Oaks, California, served five years in 
federal prison for stealing software and altering data at Motorola, Novell, 
Nokia, Sun Microsystems and the University of Southern California. 
Prosecutors accused him of causing tens of millions of dollars in damage to 
corporate computer networks.

Mitnick was freed in January 2000. The terms of his probation, which expire 
Jan. 20, require he get government permission before using computers, 
software, modems or any devices that connect to the Internet. His travel 
and employment also are limited.

Mitnick has been allowed to use a cell phone for a couple of years and 
received permission this year to type a manuscript on a computer not 
connected to the Internet.

"Not being allowed to use the Internet is kind of like not being allowed to 
use a telephone," Mitnick said Thursday in a phone interview.

Mitnick said he is starting a firm to help companies protect themselves 
from computer attacks. He said the end of his probation will allow him to 
do hands-on work.

Christopher Painter, deputy chief of the Justice Department's computer 
crime section and the former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted 
Mitnick, said that once the former hacker's probation is over, he won't be 
subject to any special surveillance.

Mitnick led the FBI on a three-year manhunt that ended in 1995 with his 
arrest in Raleigh, North Carolina. During the chase, Mitnick continued 
breaking into computer networks and became a cult hero among hackers.

Mitnick applied to renew his ham radio license in 1999, while still in 
prison. The Federal Communications Commission ordered a hearing, citing 
that Mitnick at one time was "the most wanted computer criminal in U.S. 
history."

FCC Judge Richard Sippel granted the license in a ruling made public Monday.

"He started hacking as an inquisitive teenager and wound up a disgraced 
felon," Sippel wrote. "There is reliable evidence that Mr. Mitnick has 
focused on becoming an honest, productive citizen."

Mitnick said he was pleased with the decision. "We put on a good case to 
show the FCC that I'm sorry for my past actions," said Mitnick, who began 
using ham radios when he was 13.