Well we're a week away and it looks like FP has no history of having threads on this, so let's give it a shot.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/hFzc4L9.jpg[/IMG]
[B]What is DEF CON?[/B]
DEF CON is a conference for information security specialists, electronic tinkerers, computer enthusiasts of all kinds, "hackers" and more. Hosted in Las Vegas, it has a running history of wreaking mild to severe havoc on any location that hosts it, given the disestablishmentarian nature of the event. Rules are light and fast, and as a result it has an incredibly fun atmosphere. Almost everybody is willing to talk, learn, and teach, and there are a ton of workshops and talks that are worth going to- most of which are absolutely free. In addition to the talks, there is an expansive vendor's hall where you have the chance to pick up otherwise expensive specialist hardware for extremely cheap, and freebies are incredibly abundant.
At DEF CON, speakers aim to expose exploits, offer tips and tricks to aspiring infosec students and workers, and spread just generally interesting knowledge. Talks of note from last year informed listeners on how they can build a device capable of tracking all devices operating on the LTE band around them (I.E. phones, allowing users to know where people are), exposed crippling security vulnerabilities that essentially allowed (and regrettably still does allow, the company hasn't fixed it) any individual to log into medical equipment with default credentials and cause serious harm to hospital patients, how to remain safe both online and in public in the information age, and much more.'
[B]What is there to do DEF CON beyond listening to people talk?[/B]
DEF CON hosts many, many, many games and challenges that people of all skill levels are able to get involved in. The very first thing that you aquire when you enter the conference is actually a "game" of sorts- the badges each year contain parts of a typically very intricate puzzle, the nature of which changes changes from con to con. Last year, the badges were all vinyl records, and people ended up bringing in players to figure out what was going on. There are also "simpler" games such as the scavenger hunt, which includes hard to find items such as half a bowling ball, a raw in-n-out patty (good fucking luck with that one, never going to happen) and more! If you're more knowledgeable, you probably know about this already- but the con hosts CTF challenges, in which teams attempt to steal data from one another on an intranet.
Beyond the games and challenges, there are a host of workshops, such as the Lock picking and tamper proof village. If you're interested in becoming HAM certified, there are certification classes and classes. Again, most of these events are 100% free.
[B]What do I need to know to go to DEF CON?[/B]
DEF CON is, surprisingly, incredibly receptive to newcomers. You might not know anything about information security, exploits, social engineering or anything else, but as long as you're willing to go to talks and have an open mind, there's a ton that you can learn.
[B]What kind of people can I expect to see at DEF CON?[/B]
DEF CON contains a rather eclectic mix of folks, ranging from infosec professionals to script kiddies to posers to media to real-life feds (aka "spooks"). Many of them are friendly, and typically if someone is NOT friendly they're fairly easy to spot (Looking at you, trenchcoat man)
[B]What safety precautions should I take at DEF CON?[/B]
Regrettably, any event of this nature brings the bad along with the good and neutral- Some folks are just dicks. For this reason, you need to take reasonable precautions to secure your belongings, keep your wallet in your front pocket or somewhere else where it's less likely to be stolen, and keep an eye on your personal belongings. Additionally, it's advised that you not trust the public wi-fi, as it is almost certainly compromised. Avoid logging into anything that involves money at the conference if you are able to, and if not then use a VPN service. If asked for an interview, politely decline, and if anybody is following you around then feel free to inform a goon (the security force). At the end of the day, it's just advisable to keep electronics in your pockets or in your backpack, because security issues aside it's a lot more interesting to talk to people than to check that one general discussion thread to see if anyone posted anything new.
[B]That's a lot. Is DEF CON safe? I've heard rumors that it's sketchy.[/B]
Absolutely! There are very few people operating with malice at the con- but should you happen to run into one, it's best that you keep yourself protected. After all, protection is what the convention is all about! Just keep your head on your shoulders and you'll do fine. The primary folks at danger are the hotel/casino, as [URL="http://imgur.com/a/4PHBO#0"]evidenced by the rules recommended to hand out to staff members[/URL]
[B]This all sounds great- But I forgot to get a ticket! What do I do?[/B]
Fear not! Given the nature of the event, badges are purchased the first day of the event, with cash. Up front. It is a little shady, but what do you expect? If there were some sort of online registration tool, you can bet your ass that every single person that registered would end up on some sort of watch list. It is also a generally bad idea to announce on social media that you are going for the same reason (although in the end, it's bad to announce when you're leaving for an event EVER on social media because that's a great way to get burgled)
[B]What's the event schedule?[/B]
It's not been posted yet, but there's an unofficial list here
[url]http://defcon.outel.org/[/url]
and a party list here
[URL="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=Mjd0NTVnNmU4YzV2bGk3dnRkZ2g2cGJjbzBAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ&embed&?showTitle=0&showNav=1&showPrint=1&showTabs=1&showCalendars=1&showTz=1&mode=WEEK&height=300&wkst=2&dates=20160801/20160831&src=ZGVmY29ucGFydGllc0BnbWFpbC5jb20&pli=1"]parties
[/URL]
additional resources for new members at
[url]https://www.reddit.com/r/Defcon/[/url]
and
[url]https://www.defcon.org/[/url]
[B]Are you a shill?[/B]
Yes, I was paid ten billion fake internet points to make this post.
Have any more questions? Ask them! No question is stupid given the media snafu and disinfo surrounding this event.
Have fun!
I look forward to this every year, love some of the stories these guys have to tell, as well as those live demos.
[QUOTE=Cinnamonbun;50786082]I look forward to this every year, love some of the stories these guys have to tell, as well as those live demos.[/QUOTE]
How many years have you been going? If you went last year, did you end up meeting John Mcafee? I only saw him in passing but my friend got a picture with him. He disappeared as soon as he showed up, so only a few people got photos.
Probably posted in HW + SW. Oh well.
After skimming the list of talks, I'm incredibly excited for this year.
[QUOTE=zerf;50791752]Probably posted in HW + SW. Oh well.
After skimming the list of talks, I'm incredibly excited for this year.[/QUOTE]
That's a good point. I've reposted it there.
Which talks stand out to you? I haven't had a chance to go over the list in its entirety yet.
Anyone else attempting the dcdark.net challange?
I am close on the first one, and I know the first one should be the easiest, but it doesn't seem to be correct. I am sure I have the complete message, just it isn't accepting it. Here is the first transmission for anyone wanting to try it:
RXRQNOTRXSWXNZQOFGZZRPFCZUWXCFMTRQSZZUTNNZUTFWZMZWMTZGFIQCIZFRZOBMMV
RXRQNOTRXSWXNZQOFGZZRPFCZUWXCFMTRQSZZUTNNZUTFWZMZWMTZGFIQCIZFRZOBMMV
RXRQNOTRXSWXNZQOFGZZRPFCZUWXCFMTRQSZZUTNNZUTFWZMZWMTZGFIQCIZFRZOBMMV
RXRQNOTRXSWXNZQOFGZZRPFCZUWXCFMTRQSZZUTNNZUTFWZMZWMTZGFIQCIZFRZOBMMV
RXRQNOTRXSWXNZQOFGZZRPFCZUWXCFMTRQSZZUTNNZUTFWZMZWMTZGFIQCIZFRZOBMMV
This is as close as I have got. Anyone not wanting the answer, DO NOT CLICK THE SPOILER. This is the complete message, with information on why the hint makes sense, etc.
[sp]
RXR Q NO TR XS WX NZ Q OFGZ ZRPFCZU WX CFMTR Q SZZU TNNZUTFWZ MZWMTZGFI Q CIZFRZ OBMMV
SOS Q MH IS ON TO ME Q HAVE ESCAPED TO PARIS Q NEED IMMEDIATE RETRIEVAL Q PLEASE HURRY
The Q is a new line, 5 of them in total.
[/sp]
Man, Vegas? Goddammit, that's far.
I wish the US was like European countries, where the furthest anything can be is ~a 3 hour drive, tops.
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