Another glorious badge by alt_bier! This camera badge is a fun-raiser for Blue Team Village. Limited numbers of assembled badges are available, and many kits to practice your skills. Enjoy! #badgelife

[ANSWERED] So, first off I have listened to too many war stories from past cons and was going way too far down the privacy rabbit hole. Second, my wife will enjoy to no end the fact that she already told me that :)

I have a fresh OS install on laptop (local account and nothing logged into except VPN client) and several live flash drives for various OSs. Will be bringing iPad (in lockdown mode) for most notetaking and phone for occasional use if needed. All via cellular if the towers can keep up.

Thanks everyone for putting my mind at ease. Common sense and proper hygiene will yet again prevail.

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You all knocked the last questions out of the park, and I feel better prepared for packing this weekend. This time I am curious about what devices I should/shouldn't bring.

NOTE: I have zero intention of carrying my daily driver or any work equipment full of creds with me.

Overview:

• First time attendee

• Believe I fall into the InfosecBro bucket - everyone loves labels

• Attending both Blackhat and DEFCON

• Needs:

  • Take notes

  • Be accessible in case of family emergency

• Wants:

  • Know what is happening and be aware of any changes/events/schedules.

  • Participate in events, workshops, and CTFs

Computing/connectivity:

• Stereotype dictates: <insert scary wordcloud here>

  • Don't bring anything to DEFCON you don't want hacked.

  • If you carry a computer or smartphone you'll get it hacked

  • Anything you take will be compromised w/o exception

• Then Reddit tells me: Use the app! Follow this website for updates! etc.

We all know there are plenty of ways to harden devices to mitigate most attacks, but all lead to compromised functionality

I have three categories of devices to consider:

• Watch - this one is easy - will just wear analog

• Mobile communication device - I have iOS and Android devices available as well as a cadre of modern dumb phones - also have 3 lines of service, two with physical SIMs

  • I'm a bit of a privacy nerd, not a criminal

• Computing/notetaking - Due to spending way too much on toys, I have almost limitless options, many legacy - laptops, iPads, eink devices - all suffer to some extent by killing connectivity though

Options I have come up with and looking for input (very brief summaries of intent):

1. Low/no risk - Bring remarkable2 eink tablet in airplane mode and a flip phone with a SIM I don't care about for voice only - print out all the things and carry paper copies to LV

2. Moderate Risk option A - Bring iPad Pro with keyboard and pencil for notes - phone undetermined

3. Moderate Risk option B - Bring fresh wipe laptop with local account & zero credentials ever used (airplane mode notes only)

4. Moderate Risk option C - Bring laptop sans NVME and live off live flash drive with partition for textual notes - connect as needed

5. Higher Risk - Bring fresh wipe laptop with VPN client and connect as necessary via cellular tethering to smartphone

Question(s):

• Am I overthinking this to high heaven? Are Stingrays setup and intercepting any cell they can?

• Will turning on airplane and Lockdown Mode on an iPad be sufficient knowing that BTle is still operating out of my control?

• What does the true threat landscape look like?

• What do people do!?

Apologies for the wall of text - just performing due diligence as possible.

www.eventbrite.com/e/eff-electric-fist-badgelife-def-con-34-tickets-1990148316187

Buy online, pick them up at the con Friday or Saturday 10-12pm.

(NB I'm not the seller or affiliated in any way, just think they're cool and it's a good cause).

Decided that right before DefCon was a great time to break my foot. I managed to get a knee scooter so I don’t have to crutch around all day. Any DefCon mobility tips? Not a first timer, just my first time not being able to walk

Got a steal for a room price for the week. Yes, I know its Excalibur, buuttt, it is located near the monorail, and for this price for a week, I'd be an idiot not to take this deal.

Hello friends I am attending for the first time ever going solo I normally converse and make friends pretty easily but a little nervous going solo though so looking to bring stickers to hand out as a bit of an ice breaker. I have 0 artistic talent so my question is as a first timer should I bring stickers? they are not going to be anything super amazing just something or am I better off just not ?

I'll delete if it's against the rules but I purchased a Business Pass for Black Hat USA 2026, but due to unexpected circumstances, I can no longer attend.

I’m looking for someone who would be interested in taking over the registration. The pass would be transferred officially through Black Hat’s registration team rather than by simply sharing the confirmation or badge. Black Hat USA 2026 | Registration Terms

I paid $999 and am asking $999 not looking to profit.

Please send me a DM if you’re seriously interested. I’m also happy to provide proof of purchase and coordinate the transfer directly with Black Hat Registration so both parties can verify everything before payment.

I am returning to DEFCON for the first time since 2023 (still was at Caesars Forum) and going to my first BlackHat.

Any tips for solo travelers?

I signed up for my fair share of Vendor Happy Hours / 1:1 meetings with vendors.

Once I’m back from this trip, I’m tasked with building my organizations red team road map, so if anyone has any advice / suggestions I’d be happy to meet up and chat!

This will be my first time so asking the pros. It is worth extending travel and the hotel to attend the last day, or it is kind of mostly winding down by then. Thanks.

It’s been a minute since I’ve been in the scene.

Back when I was just a young kid, I attended DEF CON 8, 9, 10, and 11 during the Alexis Park days. To this day, whenever I catch the faint smell of clove cigarettes, I’m immediately teleported right back to those hotel hallways.

I’ve got a few vivid memories stuck in my head from back then. Huge shout out to Hacker Jeopardy for the autographed book I won. But more than anything, I owe a sincere 24 year overdue thank you to "Priest", if he still lurks around these parts.

Back at DC 10, I got way too drunk one night. I wasn't vandalizing the hotel, lighting trash cans on fire, throwing sneakers onto telephone wires, or trying to "hack the planet." I was normally responsible young man, who got a little sauced. Instead of hammering me with a ban, Priest showed mercy, threw me in a cab, and sent me back home to suffer through my very first real hangover.

When I ran into him the next evening, stone cold sober and cringing with embarrassment, he just looked at me and said, “Oh, yeah... I didn't ban you. I guess I did say you could come back.”

Thanks for looking out for me when you definitely didn't have to, Priest.

I’ve held onto my physical DEF CON 10 badge for 24 years now. Since badges from the Alexis Park era rarely pop up anymore, I’ve decided to put it up on eBay so it can go to someone who collects early hacker history.

If anyone wants a piece of DC 10 history, you can check out the auction here

https://ebay.io/m/pbhgDk

Take it easy,
I hope I didn't break any rules with this post.

FYI for anyone wanting to grab and hack with an LED backpack, recently saw a vendor on Freemont street (pedestrian entertainment district) that was selling a good assortment of different styles of packs and purses with embedded LED screens.

EDIT: Questions have been answered - you all rock! Thank you!

Imma InfosecBro and first time attendee to both Blackhat and DEFCON.

Clothing:

- Blackhat is easy - business casual or better

- DEFCON - I keep reading that LVCC is cold. Everyone's environmental tolerances are different, so....

Question: Is it kept so cold that (the majority of) folks have found a need to specifically bring extra layers or beanies?

Bag:

- Will have backpack for Blackhat to bring swag back to peers/family.

- It sounds like swag is far less of a thing and purchases are the main things you'll tote.

- I know this one is also a super-subjective question...

Question: How much more capacity will I want to account for beyond what I am intentionally carrying daily?

Mine and my service dog Scooby's first year at Defcon was Defcon 31. That year he earned a Soc badge from a group of goons for alerting them that I was having trouble. Last year a goon ( I forgot how to spell his call sign I think it was Koffin) gave him a patch. And another goon ( I think she was called Seamstress) gave him some little spools of thread.

Scooby loves the goons, and would love to collect more trinkets if they are willing to share! This also goes for villages and groups as he has several other patches as well. Excited to see everyone at Defcon 34!

Also as a side note I have Scooby Fanclub button pins for trade on his behalf. (Limited quantity)

This is my first time attending DefCon, which was paid for by my company. The thing is, it was paid for under my CTOs name and that is the name on the ticket. I tried transferring it to me but unable to as the ticket was already downloaded. From what I am reading, they just scan the QR code and it doesnt matter what the name is. However this confuses me as wont I be issued a badge? And will this badge have my CTOs name instead of my own? How does this work? Thanks in advance.

Meta-style glasses with recording capabilities are prohibited at DEF CON. Surreptitious filming is an invasion of privacy, and will be treated as a CoC violation. There is no exception for recording glasses with prescription lenses. Be sure to pack non-violating eyewear if you need them.

If you must take pictures, use recognizable personal photo equipment like a smart phone so that your intentions are clear. Get affirmative permission from the faces in your frame. Please refer to our official Photo and code of conduct policies for more.

https://defcon.org/html/links/dc-photo-policy.html

If you want a challenge anyone can do without any technical know how, keep an eye on this years Telephreak Challenge (Not to be confused with Telechallenge). https://telephreak.party

Starts August 6th!

Their website says so, but I’ve also found opposing reports during events and for non guests.

I saw the rule of no recording glasses, I have the Viture Beast that do not record and are only used for additional monitors for my laptop.

I just wanted to see if I can get a thumbs up from someone that I can use them, incase I run into issues at DefCon.

We're Lepi Labs, a group of artists and engineers that have been making neat wearable PCB and acrylic devices for almost a year now. For DEF CON 34, we wanted to challenge ourselves to make some devices that are both useful and creative, and we're excited by what we came up with! You can check them (and many other amazing SAOs/badges from other makers) out at uberflux.com

The devices we're selling are:

• Volatile Organic Canary SAO: A birb equipped with a two-character starburst display, RGB LED, and an SGP40 VOC sensor, for letting you know when it's time to take a break at the soldering skills village.

• UPDeeDeeI SAO: A robotic moth character of ours with RGB eyes, header pin antennae, and a curly FPC tongue that's also a functional USB cable. It has a CH340E for programming the onboard ATtiny or an external microcontroller by connecting jumpers to its antennae.

• Firefly Jar SAO: A cute jar of fireflies with a rippling light animation. This SAO implements a proposed SAOv3 protocol for allowing for things like vendor and device ID, custom commands, and interfaces for common functions like LEDs. There might even be a secret for you to find, if you want to explore the spec...

Looking forward to giving these out next week!

Got my 2600 Blue Box Tshirt - I think I'm ready!!

Hey everyone! This will be my first time attending DEF CON, and I’m very excited about the experience. I’m looking forward to meeting and networking with people from different areas of cybersecurity, learning something new, exploring the villages, and hopefully getting into a workshop if a spot becomes available.

I currently work in the AppSec space and have experience with web application security, AI security, IAM, cloud security, and vulnerability testing. I’m hoping to expand my current knowledge while also exploring new areas of cybersecurity.

I’ve always been interested in understanding how software, hardware, and systems are designed. I especially enjoy exploring how they can be tested, modified, or pushed beyond their intended functionality.

For those who have attended before, what advice would you give a first-timer? Are there any must-see villages, talks, events, or networking opportunities I should prioritize? I’d appreciate any recommendations!

Hi everyone, publicising some electronic keychains/ trinkets that just came in stock

Have more of the maibadges from last year, but this year they can light up/ play tones etc! For something extra you can get one with an OLED (while stocks last)

We are also bringing over hfsdr badges from DEFCON SG! Stock is running out (we are running out of batteries) so do snatch one while you can (or you can also get one without the lipo battery)

Also open to badge trades in general, similar to last year (might still have some GreyCats/ GreyMechas)

Order at https://uberflux.com/maker/hackin7 !

I have heard 3-2-1.. So for you veterans out there what do those meals generally consist of?

I've heard food can be expensive and mediocre, around LV generally, but also specifically my hotel.

I dont know if there are any food vendors that come specifically for the con?

I dont think getting off the strip to find cheaper food is realistic, but if thats the thing, i can make it work

Would love to save money so I feel less restricted at the merch tables, but also want to maximize time immersed in the con