Posted
08.08.2014

* DEFCON 22: A first look inside the biggest hackers conference

What, exactly, goes on at the world’s largest hackers conference, where some 15,000 geeks, nerds, and spooks gather for four days at the Hotel Rio in Vegas for the 22nd time? A lot more occurs than I can possibly describe. But I’ll try to give you a taste. This is my third ‘Con and, even after its first day, it looks like it’s the biggest and most crowded that I’ve attended.

I arrived a day early and, as a member of the press, was able to register ahead of time without having to wait on the huge lines–think several hours’ wait–that appear the next day. After three years, I can find my way through the Rio’s sizable casino, where the 2014 World Series of Poker took place just a few weeks ago, to the Rotunda, DEFCON’s entrance and crossroads. This is where you register, meet friends, buy overpriced schwag, and go shopping for geeky books, gadgets–or maybe the latest in lock-picking tools. (I may try my hand at lock-picking here later this weekend).

The rotunda

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 The badge

You need one of these to get into DEFCON. The design changes each year and there are variants for speakers, staff, press, and what DEFCON’s organizers call “Humans” (regular attendees). This year the entry price is $220 and everything at DEFCON is cash only. A lot of thought and work goes into the badge design, since it usually plays a part in various competitions. This year’s consists of a circuit board with a processor that’s powered by three AAA batteries that can display a variety of lighting patterns. Attendees are encouraged to hack badges, re-program them, and there’s even a competition for the best forged badge. Here’s my press badge:

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Wandering around

Clues for contests are often embedded in the floor. Below, an attendee gathers information, quite likely for some competition.

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At numerous special-interest “villages,” which are sub-conferences, instructional presentations and competitions take place.

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Fundraising

A number of booths do fundraising–via sales, raffles, and auctions–for various causes.

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One fundraiser offered a Mohawk cut for $15.

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Competitions

Dozens of competitions continue throughout the conference. Below, hackers vie for fame and honors (but not fortune) in a not-so-congenial game of Hacker Jeopardy.

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Below, a version of the “Capture the Flag” hacking competition that’s open to DEFCON attendees.

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Another competition: a password-cracking battle called Crack me if you can

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Surprise! This year, the Federal Trade Commission showed up at DEFCON with a competition of its own, Zap Rachel, to foster new approaches to foiling the detested robo-callers. Cash prizes total $17,000.

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In the Wall of Sheep competition, hackers demonstrate lax security on the part of their fellow DEFCON attendees by hacking into the conference’s own wireless network.

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Below, a public list of real user ID’s, passwords (partially redacted), and other identifying information of DEFCON “sheep” (attendees) whose wireless communications were hacked by the contestants.

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The goal in the DEFCON BOTS competition is to build an autonomous robot that can complete a specific task.

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Stay tuned for more from DEFCON 22 over the next few days.

–Jeff Fox

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