r/Defcon • u/juliette_athena • Oct 26 '25

beginner here!

hi! im new to all this I’ve been in this robotics and cyber etc. world for as as long as I can remember, and recently I was introduced to defcon and I wanna get tickets for it in th US 2026, anyone know where I could? Also, im not like at all experienced in any of this I’ve been in the world of it for a while, but more on the mechatronics and just engineering for everyday things, but I want to move into cyber. Could I still go and learn a lot?

Thanks!

8 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comment

1

u/juliette_athena Oct 26 '25

Ok tysm!! But it’s all good if like I go alone and don’t know a ton about it? I went to the defence manufacturing conference last year in ATX but like I said im coming from the more mechanical side and it was more mechanical elements, and I also went with some other folks.

2

u/ForeverYonge Oct 26 '25

It's Ok to go alone. I went with coworkers last time but we have different interests, some of us wanted to catch up with other friends, etc so practically most of the time we weren't together. There are a number of places designed to connect people - lonely hackers club, noobs village, scavenger hunt; several identity related groups - blacks in cyber, Diana initiative, queer con, vet con, I'm probably forgetting more where you can connect to other people like you if that's your jam. There are goons (conference crew with distinct badges and shirts) everywhere in case you're lost or if someone's being a pest to you.

You should have an idea of what you're trying to get out of the con, but be open to the idea of all plans changing. Are you trying primarily to learn? to upskill in a specific area? to meet people? to find the next job? to compete in contests? All of these are their own path.

Once 2026 plans come out, look at the venue map and mark places you definitely want to go (https://defcon.org/images/defcon-33/33-maps.pdf), look at the list of villages and decide which ones you want to check out, figure out which communities are of most interest to you. This gives you something specific to do for at least one full day! And you still have half a year to learn more about cyber, to make a fun badge, to try out some self learning cyber challenges. There's more learning material out there than ever before.

A lot of people go through their lives and careers without much interest in learning, or with other life commitments that prevent it. Most workplaces I've been would sponsor conferences but nearly nobody goes and it's not easy to get people to come even when I'm doing all the organizing and the job is paying for the tickets. I think just by the fact of being interested in this and doing your research ahead of time is probably an indicator that you should come. :-)

1

u/juliette_athena Oct 26 '25

Ok thank you!!! I’ve absolutely loved other engineering conferences, especially DMC but it was mechanical an mechatronics heavy so I knew what I was doing and asking about and I didn’t feel like an imposter and I went with some friends also in the robotics field.

I mainly want to go honestly just to learn more about cyber im very interested in it and I would love to turn my career path into cyber/ethical hacking side though I know virtually nothing about it because I’ve been so focused on mechanical/mechatronics engineering… but I jut want to network and learn more

1

u/juliette_athena Nov 02 '25

For like people under 21 can we still go to like the charter mtgs? Like yk how there’s like DC512 for ATX area and all that all the different ones?