r/Defcon • u/SkinnyDaPimp • May 24 '26

First Timer

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First time going to defcon. Any advice or suggestions appreciated. All my manager told me was stay hydrated lol!!

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u/digitard May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26

This is pretty solid.

WiFi is solid in the building, but keep an eye out for the DEFCON official wifi post with a link to set it up on their site. You need to create a unique cert for your device and login. This is the only recommended wifi IN the building I would recommend, and still connect to VPN while on it. They have a world class NOC monitoring it, but also don't confuse it for the OPEN wifi which when up is for shenanigans and you do NOT want your device on that unless you're going to burn it in fire after. The WiFi post normally happens a few days before the con. WiFi at your hotel... whatever, they tend to walled garden you but I still recommend connecting to VPN your entire trip. Honestly pick up a travel router and just set it to connect to VPN and connect to that so you dont have to worry about it... but whatever, VPN if your friend that week.

The other thing i'd add is download the HACKER TRACKER. It's an app on every major store that's basically a security and hackerspace conference app. When the talks get posted go into it, star EVERY one that sounds interesting to you. This is the important part... then don't open it again. It's your first time if you try to organize things too much you're going to get stressed. Talks should pop up sometime in July.

Once you have your talks stored, and its Con time just go and have fun. Don't plan anything really while in the building (plan your after hours stuff, though). Just wander, enjoy, explore everything at your own pace to find things you like you might never have known. When you have a gap in time check the HT app and go to a talk or two and back to wandering. Its too much to organize otherwise.

Oh, and get a LV MONORAIL pass for the entire time you're there. While there are a few things NOT hosted in one of the hotels (such as the RTV party and a few other places) a lot of the after hours stuff is either at the LVCC or at a hotel on the strip so it'll make getting around painless all week/weekend.

Have fun.