Tsutomu Shimomura: The Physicist Who Tracked Kevin Mitnick
Tsutomu Shimomura is a multifaceted figure in the worlds of science and technology. A Japanese-born physicist and computer security expert, he gained international notoriety not for a laboratory discovery, but for his pivotal role in one of the most famous manhunts in the history of the early internet: the pursuit and capture of hacker Kevin Mitnick.
From studying under Nobel laureates to leading semiconductor companies, Shimomura's career blends high-level theoretical physics with the practical, often gritty reality of cybersecurity.
Key Facts
- Known for: Assisting the FBI in tracking and arresting hacker Kevin Mitnick.
- Education: Studied at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) under Richard Feynman.
- Professional Roles: Staff physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and founder/CEO of Neofocal Systems.
- Literary Work: Co-authored the book Takedown (1996) with journalist John Markoff.
- Family Legacy: Son of Osamu Shimomura, winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Born on October 23, 1964, in Nagoya, Japan, Shimomura grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. His academic journey led him to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he had the rare opportunity to study under the legendary Nobel laureate Richard Feynman.
Following his time at Caltech, Shimomura entered the professional scientific community as a staff physicist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. There, he worked alongside Brosl Hasslacher on lattice gas automata—a discrete model used to simulate fluid dynamics and other physical systems.
By 1989, his career shifted toward computational physics. He became a research scientist at the University of California, San Diego, and a senior fellow at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. During this period, he also began establishing himself as a computer security expert, eventually working for the National Security Agency (NSA).
The Pursuit of Kevin Mitnick
Shimomura entered the public eye in 1992 when he testified before Congress regarding the security and privacy vulnerabilities of cellular telephones. He was noted at the time for his unconventional appearance, often appearing in casual "surfer gear" while other witnesses wore formal suits.
However, he is most famous for the events of 1995. Shimomura assisted the FBI in tracking down Kevin Mitnick, one of the most wanted computer hackers in America. This period was marked by high-tension interactions, including prank calls from Mitnick that popularized the phrase "My kung fu is stronger than yours" as a metaphor for hacking superiority.
The details of this pursuit were chronicled in the 1996 book Takedown, co-authored by Shimomura and journalist John Markoff. The story was later adapted into the 2000 film Track Down, in which Shimomura made a brief cameo appearance.
Entrepreneurship and Later Work
In the late 1990s, Shimomura worked for Sun Microsystems before venturing into the business world. He founded Neofocal Systems, a fabless semiconductor company (a company that designs hardware but outsources the actual fabrication of the chips). Shimomura served as the company's CEO and CTO until 2016.
Beyond his business ventures, he has contributed to the technical community through academic writing, including a 1996 paper on minimal key lengths for symmetric ciphers, co-authored with other security luminaries like Bruce Schneier and Whitfield Diffie.
Controversies and Criticisms
The capture of Kevin Mitnick remains a subject of debate. Mitnick and other critics have raised ethical and legal questions regarding Shimomura's methods. In the book The Fugitive Game, author Jonathan Littman presented a conflicting version of events, alleging that parts of Takedown were fabricated and questioning the legality of Shimomura's involvement.
Mitnick further detailed these concerns in his autobiography, Ghost in the Wires, suggesting that the actions taken during the pursuit were both unethical and illegal.
Summary of Professional Profile
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Fields | Computational Physics, Computer Security |
| Key Institutions | Caltech, Los Alamos National Laboratory, UC San Diego |
| Notable Company | Neofocal Systems (Founder, CEO, CTO) |
| Major Publication | Takedown (1996) |
| Famous Association | Kevin Mitnick (Pursuit/Capture) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tsutomu Shimomura?
Tsutomu Shimomura is a Japanese-born physicist and computer security expert known for his work in computational physics and for helping the FBI capture the hacker Kevin Mitnick.
What is the significance of the book Takedown?
Takedown is a 1996 book co-authored by Shimomura and John Markoff that describes the pursuit and capture of Kevin Mitnick. It was later adapted into a movie called Track Down.
What is a fabless semiconductor company?
A fabless semiconductor company, such as Neofocal Systems, is a firm that designs and sells hardware and chips but does not own the manufacturing plants (fabs) used to produce them.
Did Kevin Mitnick agree with Shimomura's account of events?
No. Kevin Mitnick and author Jonathan Littman have challenged the accuracy of Shimomura's account, alleging that some events in Takedown were fabricated and that Shimomura's actions were unethical or illegal.
Who did Tsutomu Shimomura study under at Caltech?
Shimomura studied under the renowned Nobel laureate physicist Richard Feynman during his time at the California Institute of Technology.