Hacker News

Off The Hook show for February 1, 2012

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:31 -0700

THE YES MEN TO KEYNOTE AT HOPE NUMBER NINE

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:28 -0700

We're happy to announce that one of our keynote addresses at HOPE Number Nine this summer will be given by The Yes Men, in what will surely be a lively, enlightening, and inspirational presentation.
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DISCOUNTED RATES FOR HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA NOW AVAILABLE FOR HOPE DATES

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:26 -0700

We have the special HOPE rates for Hotel Pennsylvania this July and we're happy to say that the rates are just about the same as they were last time we did this in 2010. Here's the breakdown for the nights of July 10th through July 14th:

$139 - 1 bed (single or double)
$149 - 1 twin bed room
$169 - 2 beds (twins or 2 double beds)

For those staying beyond Sunday, the prices go down even more for July 15th and July 16th:

$99 - 1 bed (single or double)
$119 - 2 beds (twins or 2 double beds)

HOPE Number Nine will be taking place from Friday, July 13th through Sunday, July 15th, 2012 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City.

To take advantage of this discounted rate (which sold out along with the entire hotel last time), call +1 212 736 5000 or ask your operator to connect you to Pennsylvania 6-5000 in New York City. (Go ahead, try it.) When you get to the reception desk, be sure to mention that you want the HOPE rate.

For those of you who'd rather not use a telephone, simply go to http://tinyurl.com/hopehotel and adjust the dates of your stay accordingly within the green squares. (Make sure the Group Code says HOPE.)
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Off The Wall show for January 31, 2012

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:21 -0700

Media
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February 2012 Free Giveaway Sponsor - Global Knowledge

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:14 -0700

Win CISSP Prep Course Worth $2895!! OK... the new year is upon us, and so are the resolutions and goals we've set out for ourselves. Hopefully most of you not only have the technical side of your brain in your plans, but also the management skills that are more and more expected of us geeks as we advance in our careers. Enter terms conditions (http://www.globalknowledge.com/training/generic.asp?pageid=2816 country=United+States)). This course includes all the tools you need to prepare for the updated (ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional exam. Prepare with confidence with this course and these exciting tools: • Custom study...
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DEF CON 18 Press And Early Video!

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:07 -0700

Hey everyone! The Press Page and the DC 18 Archive Page have been updated with a ton of stories covering DEF CON 18! Not only that, but we have uploaded the first early release video (slides w/ audio) of a few of the talks, including:

DEFCON 18 Hacking Conference Presentation By Joe Grand and Dark Tangent - Welcome And Behind The Scenes Of The DEFCON Badge - Slides.m4v

DEFCON 18 Hacking Conference Presentation By Barnaby Jack - Jackpotting Automated Teller Machines Redux - Slides.m4v

DEFCON 18 Hacking Conference Presentation By David Maynor and Paul Judge - Searching For Malware - Slides.m4v

DEFCON 18 Hacking Conference Presentation By Chris Paget - Practical Cellphone Spying - Slides.m4v

DEFCON 18 Hacking Conference Presentation By Md Sohail Ahmad - WPA Too! - Slides.m4v

Enjoy! The rest of the audio and video will be up in a couple of months, but for now, enjoy these tasty nuggets of DEF CON goodness!
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DEFCON 17 CFP Update

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:08:05 -0700

If you submitted a CFP and have not been notified of it's status hold tight! We have a lot of submissions this year that we want to accept. If you haven't heard back from us by now, you're still in consideration for a time slot. We're probably trying to find room for you. Sorry we missed our June 1st notification date, but we have too much awesome sauce for our burgers.

An update will be posted to the website when we have finished our selection process, all CFP's will be sent an email of their status at that point. Thanks!
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Merry Christmas from DEF CON! Here's a Special Gift!

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:07:55 -0700

It seems Santa has been in our servers, (I don't know how he does it, he must be 1337) and has left you a special gift! The Speaker & Slides video, as well as the the Audio from DEF CON 19 is now live and awaiting your downloading pleasure. You can find them on the DEF CON 19 Archive page, or on the following RSS Feeds:

https://www.defcon.org/podcast/defcon-19-video.rss
https://www.defcon.org/podcast/defcon-19-audio.rss

As 2011 winds down, we're working hard behind the scenes for a spectacular 20th anniversary of DEF CON in 2012! So keep your eyes on the DEF CON Facebook, Twitter, RSS Feed, or defcon.org for all the info as it happens! Enjoy!

Thursday Talks Line-up at DEFCON 17

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:07:46 -0700

This year, we're packing even more goodness into Thursday's activities, with a half day of talks aimed at the DEFCON n00b. These talks will cover everything from basic hacking skills to what our beloved con is about, and how to get the most out of it. If you are new to DEFCON, or feel like you could get more out of it, this "basic training" will be an invaluable resource!

DEFCON 101
HighWiz, The Dark Tangent, Russr, DJ Jackalope, Deviant Ollam, Thorn, ThePrez98, LosT, Siviak

Pre-Con Introduction to Lock Picking
Alek Amrani

DEFCON 1 - A Personal Account
Dead Addict

Con Kung-Fu: Defending Yourself @ DEFCON
Rob "Padre" DeGulielmo

Hardware Black Magic - Building devices with FPGAs
Dr. Fouad Kiamilev

DCFluX in: The Man with the Soldering Gun
Matt Krick "DCFluX"

Effective Information Security Career Planning
Lee Kushner and Mike Murray

DC Network Session
Lockheed

So You Got Arrested in Vegas...
Jim Rennie

Hacking with GNURadio
Videoman
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Video Update

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:07:43 -0700

The videos have been taken down for a week or two, as we worked a little too fast to get them up and the production company wasn't ready to release them. We will have slides+audio versions of the videos up and online within the next two weeks, once we receive the right versions and process. Thanks for your patience, and stay tuned to our Twitter, RSS Feed, or Facebook page for the announcement when they go back up!
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The Community Delivers Great Mobile Options for DEFCON 17!

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:07:27 -0700

There has been an outpouring of mobile ready and mobile friendly options from the DEFCON community this year to make your DEFCON scheduling easier!

First there is a full blown (and very cool) unofficial iPhone app that has been submitted to the Apple store for review, made by Johnnie "Jedi" Pittmann (@dtjedi) and Todd Kimball (@tkimball). As of this posting, This app is not yet available from the Apple store. They have opted, pending acceptance from Apple, to make the app available via ad-hoc distribution, and will be accepting requests by email until Wednesday, July 29th at 9am PDT. The method, contact info, and possible risks are clearly outlined at http://www.group6.net/AdHoc.html

From their site on http://www.group6.net/Defcon_App.html:
After years of misplaced, begged, borrowed, stolen Defcon schedules, we decided to do something to help. Introducing the Defcon 17 iPhone app. Get all the up to date details on the con on your iPhone/iPod Touch. In addition to that, you can view the offical Defcon RSS feed and #defcon Twitter posts. Talk and event calendars, speaker and dj bios, and a map of the venue.

Features
- Talk Calendar
- Event Calendar
- Speaker/DJ Biographies
- Defcon RSS Feed Reader
- Twitter #defcon

Not to mention the great efforts of Darth Null to bring you an extremely useful web-based iPhone/mobile ready schedule and map application! You can find his fantastic work at http://www.darthnull.org.

There are also a couple of Google calendars out there, one for events, thanks to JonM, and a full schedule at http://defcon.starthan.net/

All of these folks are coordinating together for updates, to bring you the freshest info from DEFCON 17! A huge thank you all of them for contributing!

DEFCON FORUMS now support user blogs

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:07:07 -0700

The DEFCON foums (forum.defcon.org) now supports projects and blogs. We have licensed the
blog http://www.vbulletin.com/features_blog.php, tool, and anyone with a
forum account can now create a blog. We'll be doing more with this in the
future, but for now we are encouraging people to create accounts and play
with it. If it works we'll keep it, if not we'll look for other software to
try.

We've also licensed Project Tools (http://www.vbulletin.com/features_project.php) that
everyone can use to plan DC Groups projects, events at the con, or their
latest hacking project.

If you're a forum member, we hope you'll take a little time to try out the new features. If you're not, here's hoping this helps you decide to join us.
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Off The Wall show for January 24, 2012

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:33 -0700

Media
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Off The Hook show for January 25, 2012

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:31 -0700

Media
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Top 5 Tips To Make Social Engineering Your Career

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:29 -0700

Chris Hadnagy Over the last year social engineering has gotten a lot of press. From the attacks on companies like Sony, HB Gary, PBS, Citibank et al to contests like the Social Engineering CTF at Defcon, it seems that social engineering has taken the front page. And rightfully so, as it is still the easiest and often most effective vector of attack. With that in mind, many people are interested in learning what it will take to either add social engineering skills to their tool chest (either personally or as part of their red team) or even become...
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More DEF CON 19 News

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:23 -0700

Things are starting to heat up for DEF CON 19! Here are a few of the recent developments:

DEF CON Scavenger Hunt has SPONSORS!!

ThinkGeek.com and evilmadscientist.com are confirmed sponsors of the scavenger hunt, they will be offering up prizes and special offers. They won't announce specific prizes until at Def con but good news is we know that Think Geek will be offering a discount code, usable for ordering off their website during the convention, limited time offer! The coupon code for ThinkGeek DEF CON attendees will be made available at the Scavenger Hunt table in the contest area and will be announced via our twitter feeds @_Defcon_ and @defconscavhunt.

Here is a throwback to the past! Check out this Scavenger hunt list from 14yrs ago! We hope you enjoy a little nostalgia from DEF CON 5 courtesy of Mike Schrenk!

Skytalks CFP is Open!

From the DEF CON Forums:

TLDR:
Who: You
What: Skytalks IV CFP
When: Now - CFP Closes 23:59:59 MDT (UTC-06) 31 May 2011
Why: Because you've got the warez to share
Where: dcskytalks@gmail.com - WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO POINT AND LAUGH
IF WE CAN'T READ YOUR SHIT IN A TEXT EDITOR. THIS MEANS YOU,
MICROSOFT WORD USERS.
Updates: http://is.gd/5Y8eyM

Back by popular demand, Skytalks returns for its fourth year of technical prowess, side-track talks, and semi-coherent rants by some of the legends of the community. Never mind that we aren't actually IN a skybox this year, we'll still fill it to capacity, have lines running down the hallways for three talks in advance, and we'll recapture that original Defcon spirit and party like it's 1992. (Read on…)

You can track the movements of Skytalks on Facebook and Twitter as well:
Facebook: http://is.gd/0d8skZ
Twitter: @dcskytalks

DC101 Site

You can keep up on what's happening with DEF CON 101 by checking out the the new site at http://defcon.stotan.org/dc101/

DEF CON 19 Vendor Area!

The vendor area at DEF CON 19 is growing by 1000 sq. ft. this year, so all of your favorite vendors will be back and maybe a few new ones!

If you are interested in becoming a Vendor at DEF CON, Roamer has posted the updated Vendor FAQ at: http://defcon.hackingyour.net/vendor-FAQ.html

As always, you can keep up on all of the latest DEF CON 19 news at https://www.defcon.org, the DEF CON RSS Feed, The DEF CON Twitter, or on the DEF CON Facebook Page!

Follow the Post-Con discussion on the DEFCON Forums

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:20 -0700

Get over to the DEFCON Forums to join in on the post-con buzz from DEFCON 17! You can find out what people thought, content links, and it's never to early weigh in on next year's show. Remember, DEFCON is your con, and the best way to get involved is to get in on the discussions posted at forum.defcon.org. Have an idea for a new contest or event? It's the best place to start!
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Post DEFCON 16 items of note

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:18 -0700

DEFCON 16 Receipt!
For those of you that need a receipt for attending DEFCON 16, it can be downloaded from here: https://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-16/dc16_receipt.pdf

Upload your Photos!
Now that con has ended, get on over to pics.defcon.org and upload all of your awesome pics and videos from the show! We want to see them!
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DEF CON 18 Updates

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:16 -0700

Do your hear it? The whir of the gears of DEF CON planning reaching operating speed? All around us events are springing into action!

HighWiz has stated intention to bring back DC101, a primer for those new to attending DEF CON. Not many details yet, but you can stay tuned to DC101 on the DEF CON Forums to stay up to date with details as they become available!

We've also noticed that The Summit will be back this year, hosted by Vegas 2.0 to benefit the EFF! You can find details on the Summit Facebook page!

We also can't fail to mention recent activity on LosT's Mystery Challenge. He says it's going to be the last year, so you better pay attention if you want to participate! You can follow the Mystery Challenge Forum and the Official Mystery Challenge Site at ten-five-seven.org.

There is also a new forums based contest, called "What's in Neil's Pants", wherein Nikita asks a trivia question every week for the chance to win fabulous prizes from the things Neil leaves in his many pockets when he throws his pants in the hamper.

You can also look for the DEF CON 18 Website to launch by the end of the month with an announcement for the DEF CON 18 Artwork Contest to be released in early May!

As always, keep your eyes trained on the DEF CON Twitter for Updates as they occur!
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The Riviera - Good Changes for DEFCON 17

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:07:10 -0700

This year at the Riv we'll see some nice changes to some of the pricing and policies of the hotel.

Some initial RIV updates from the Dark Tangent on the DEFCON Forums:

1 - Room prices have been dropped to $89/Day and should be reflected here soon:

http://www.rivierahotel.com/resnet/roomres.asp?ID=309

If you booked under the old prices I _think_ the pricing will automagically be reflected in your bill as the new room block price.

2 - We will get the pool to 11pm for swimming and hanging out. We can do low key DJ action till then. We are currently talking with them to determine how we can keep it longer.

3 - Drink prices on beer and booze have been reduced. I'll update this post when I have accurate information.

We'll post more updates and details as they become available!
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2600 WEBSITES TO GO BLACK ON WEDNESDAY

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:08:24 -0700

We have decided to show our solidarity with the opponents of the SOPA and PIPA bills and black out our websites on Wednesday, January 18th.
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HOPE NUMBER NINE SPEAKER SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:08:20 -0700

We've opened up the submission process for speaker entries at HOPE Number Nine, to be held at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City from July 13th to 15th, 2012.
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Off The Hook show for January 18, 2012

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:08:14 -0700

Media
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Off The Wall show for January 17, 2012

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:08:10 -0700

Media
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DEF CON Archives Complete!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:08:02 -0700

DEF CON 9-11 music is now live, with RSS feeds for each. This completes the conversion of the DEF CON Archives for your enjoyment!

You can find the RSS feeds at:

DEF CON 10
https://www.defcon.org/podcast/defcon-9-music.rss
https://www.defcon.org/podcast/defcon-10-music.rss
https://www.defcon.org/podcast/defcon-11-music.rss

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DEF CON 18 Event/Contest Update!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:08:00 -0700

Contest and event planning is starting to heat up! A few more have surfaced and some others have begun conversation! Check out your favorite DEF CON Contest or Event link below for more info!

10,000¢ Hacker Pyramid: Call for Help
Artwork Contest: Coming in May
Badge Hacking Contest: Forum Active
Be The Match Foundation - Bone Marrow Drive: NEW! Forum Active
Beverage Cooling Contraption Contest: Forum Active
Cannonball Run: Forum Active
Capture the Flag: Quals Announced
DEF CON Shoot: Forum Active
Geo Challenge: Forum Active
Social Engineering Contest: No Posts
Goon Band — Recognize: Forum Active
Forum Meet: Forum Active
Hacker Jeopardy: Forum Active
Hacker Karaoke: Forum Active
Hardware Hacking Village: Forum Active
Lockpicking Contests: Forum Active
Mystery Challenge: Forum Active
Official DEF CON DJs, Music, and Events: Call for DJS, Forum Active
Open CTF: New Organizers, Forum Active
QueerCon: No Posts
Scavenger Hunt: Forum Active
Spot the Fed:Forum Active

Keep your eyes on the DEF CON Twitter, DEF CON Facebook, DEF CON RSS Feed and defcon.org for updates!
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That's Right.. We're Posting More DC 18 Speakers...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:07:20 -0700

Here's a new list of speaker adds You're probably not even finished absorbing the last one. That's just how we do. Deal with it.

Mobile Privacy: Tor on the iPhone and Other Unusual Devices
Marco Bonetti, sid77

Who Cares About IPv6?
Sam Bowne

masSEXploitation
Michael Brooks

Google Toolbar: The NARC Within
Jeff Bryner

WRT54-TM, Media Center and Network Sniffer
John A. Colley

IPv6: No Longer Optional
John Curran

Function Hooking for Mac OSX and Linux
Joe Damato

Breaking Bluetooth By Being Bored
JP Dunning

An Observatory for the SSLiverse
Peter Eckersley, Jesse Burns

How Unique Is Your Browser?
Peter Eckersley

Hacker Community (around) the Corporate World - Part II
Luiz "effffn" Eduardo

Be A Mentor!
Marisa Fagen

The Anatomy of Drug Testing
Jimi Fiekert

FOE‚ The release of Feed Over Email, a Solution to Feed Controversial News to Censored Countries.
Sho Ho

Exploiting Digital Cameras
Oren Isacson, Alfredo Ortega

How I Met Your Girlfriend
Samy Kamkar

Bypassing Smart-card Authentication and Blocking Debiting: Vulnerabilities in Atmel Cryptomemory-based Stored-value Systems
Jonathan Lee, Neil Pahl

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Badges: Hacking
Electronic Door Access Controllers
Shawn Merdinger

Letting the Air Out of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
Mike Metzger

Open Source Framework for Advanced Intrusion Detection Solutions
Patrick Mullen, Ryan Pentney

Antique Exploitation (aka Terminator 3: Point One One for Workgroups)
Jon Oberheide

Build Your Own Security Operations Center for Little or No Money
Josh Pyorre

Operating System Fingerprinting for Virtual Machines
Nguyen Anh Quynh

Lord of the Bing: Taking Back Search Engine Hacking from Google and Bing
Rob Ragan. Francis Brown

Social Networking Special Ops: Extending Data Visualization Tools for Faster Pwnage
The Suggmeister

Getting Root: Remote Viewing, Non-local Consciousness, Big Picture Hacking, and Knowing Who You Are
Richard Thieme

INSECURITY ENGINEERING OF PHYSICAL SECURITY SYSTEMS: Locks, Lies, and Videotape
Marc Weber Tobias, Tobias Bluzmanis, Matt Fiddler

Build your own UAV 2.0 - Wireless Mayhem from the Heavens!
Michael Weigand, Renderman, Mike Kershaw

Crawling BitTorrent DHTs for Fun and Profit
Scott Wolchok

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DEF CON HQ Update

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:07:16 -0700

Hey Hackers, we just wanted to let you know what's going on here at DEF CON World Domination HQ! DT, Nikita and myself are grinding away at the DEF CON Archives working on the bestest New Year's gift ever, filling in the gaps and re-encoding all of the content from all of the past cons! We're also making audio and video RSS feeds for years that don't have them, and trying to pull some SEO magic to make everything ultimately more findable. SO, keep your eyes on the DEF CON Archives for all of the great stuff from the past 17 years that you forgot you wanted to know. If you don't already follow, the DEF CON Twitter feed is a great place to get the freshest announcements on what we are doing!

By the way, the buzz for DEF CON 18 is already humming on the DEF CON Forums, and a few of the contests have planning threads and announcements open. Now is a great time to start thinking about new ideas that you might want to propose for this year's DEF CON, so post them there if you've got a great new idea!
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DEFCON Badge Designer Joe Grand's TV Show Premiers Wednesday Oct. 15!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:07:10 -0700

As many of you may know, the unique electronic badges for DEFCON (since DC14) are designed by the illustrious Joe "Kingpin" Grand. Formerly a member of the hacker group L0pht Heavy Industries and currently the brain behind Grand Idea Studios and The Kingpin Empire, Joe also has a new TV show called "Prototype This" premiering this Wednesday, October 15th on the Discovery Channel at 10pm eastern time.

The premise -- A team of four super smart guys with varying electronics and engineering backgrounds come up with and prototype crazy one-of-a-kind inventions on the cutting edge of technology in a limited time frame.

It seems like this could be a great introduction for many into the world of hardware hacking and design. We're looking forward to see what they come up with!

Upcoming Episode List:
MIND CONTROLLED CAR - October 15 @ 10 e/p
BOXING ROBOTS - October 22 @ 10 e/p
TRAFFIC BUSTING TRUCK - October 29 @ 10 e/p
GET UP AND GO - November 5 @ 10 e/p
WATERSLIDE SIMULATOR - November 12 @ 10 e/p
SIX-LEGGED ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE - November 19 @ 10 e/p

Some links about the show:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/prototype-this/prototype-this.html - Discovery Channel Page for Prototype This
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prototype_This - Wikipedia Entry
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10016485-52.html - CNet News Article
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DEFCON 16 Press Page Updated

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:07:08 -0700

There were many press-worthy happenings at DEFCON 16 this year, from the MBTA controversy to the New way of expoiting BGP. We've collected many of the articles for you to peruse on the Past Media Coverage page. You can check it out at https://www.defcon.org/html/links/dc_press/dc_press.html.

If you've noticed an article directly related to to DEFCON 16 we might have missed, send the url to neil ]at[ defcon {dot} org and we'll post it.
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Re-encoded Past DEFCON Content!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:07:05 -0700

Dark Tangent has been busy this past weekend, re-encoding the Audio from DEFCON 1 through 6 into iPod friendly m4b format! While he was at it, he decided to also re-encode the Hacker Documentaries in the archives to m4v format for your viewing pleasure! The audio from 1-6 can also be downloaded straight from iTunes! Also check out media.defcon.org for peer-to-peer links and links to all of the past media we're working on!

DEFCON 1 Audio Links | DEFCON 1 Audio RSS
DEFCON 2 Audio Links | DEFCON 2 Audio RSS
DEFCON 3 Audio Links | DEFCON 3 Audio RSS
DEFCON 4 Audio Links | DEFCON 4 Audio RSS
DEFCON 5 Audio Links | DEFCON 5 Audio RSS
DEFCON 6 Audio Links | DEFCON 6 Audio RSS

Re-encoded Hacker Documentaries
Hacker Documentary - 1994 - Unauthorized Access by Annaliza Savage
Hacker Documentary - 1995 - Hackers 95 by Phon-E and R.F. Burns
Hacker Documentary - 1997 - Hacks by Christine Bader
Hacker Documentary - 2000 - Commodore 64 Cracks by Iron Feather
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HOPE NUMBER NINE PREREGISTRATION ONLINE

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:08:08 -0700

We have officially opened up preregistration for the latest Hackers On Planet Earth conference: HOPE Number Nine, which will be taking place at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City from July 13th to July 15th, 2012. Just click here to begin the process. These tickets are still priced well below what's charged at the door, a savings of nearly 20 percent. But we believe that the full price is still an incredible bargain, considering all of the talks and fun that are found at a typical HOPE conference.
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Off The Hook show for January 11, 2012

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:08:06 -0700

Media
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Off The Wall show for January 10, 2012

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:08:06 -0700

Media
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December 2011 Free Giveaway Winner - SANS

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:08:03 -0700

We Have a Winner!! SANS Event Simulcast (http://www.sans.org/info/92539). Simply log in to a virtual classroom to see, hear, and participate in the class as it is being presented LIVE at the event. The Event Simulcast option is available for many classes offered at our largest training events. And EH-Net member Agoonie just won his choice of the following courses at SANS 2012 starting March 25 (component/option,com_smf/Itemid,54/topic,8201.0/): - SEC401: Registration Is FREE! (index.php?option=com_smf Itemid=35 action=register) Discuss in Forums
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Stop. Think. Connect. A Special DHS, PSA Contest

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:07:57 -0700

Howard Schmidt, Special Assistant to the President and Cyber Security Coordinator has issued a special PSA Contest. This crowd sourcing campaign is in an effort to alert the general public to Stop, Think, then connect, when it comes to their online presence and responsibility. Good, Bad, or otherwise, I would really like to see what the DEF CON community came up with.

I am confident that our DEF CON community could come up with some pretty interesting feedback in regards to this contest, I'd love to see and hear the creative ways you would advertise to the general public. I can only imagine the hilarity that would ensure in a minute for a video entitled "How to not be a Noob" or "Phishing & Trolling, not what it was in Grandpa's day." Overall, I have had a love for PSA's since I was a kid. A lot of us remember and have a special place in our hearts for the PSA's of our youth, especially ones of the "The More you Know" variety. Who didn't like watching "This is your Brain on Drugs" or GI JOE telling us that bullying is wrong? I know I did, and "Knowing is Half the Battle".

From the contest:

"Keeping the Internet safe is a responsibility we all share. We need to take time to stop and think before we connect to the Internet, share information online, or participate in online communities.
But sometimes, a creative and compelling reminder can help. That's why the Department has kicked-off the Stop. Think. Connect. PSA Challenge – because all Americans have an important role to play in securing the Internet.
We are looking for videos that will help educate Americans about Internet safety and what we can all do to protect ourselves and our families online.
If you know what it takes to get Americans motivated to improve their safety online, then we need your help.
We want videos that inspire Americans to Stop. Think. Connect."

For details on the requirements and how to submit visit the contest page at: http://www.dhs.gov/files/events/stop-think-connect-psa-challenge.shtm

PSAs must include at least one of the following Internet safety tips:
* Keep a Clean Machine
* Protect Your Personal Information
* Connect with Care
* Be Web Wise
* Be A Good Online Citizen

In similar fashion, I'd love to see if anyone out there posts something on:
* Understanding Encryption
* Surfing Anonymously
* Using Proxy Servers or Feed Over Email
* Understanding Copyright, TOS agreements, and Privacy expectations.
* Who and What is a Troll and how to defeat them.

This past year we had a few talks both in the offense and defense perspectives, check them out on the DC 18 archive, there are too many that fit this topic to list, you might find something that inspires you. I hope you guys & gals out there send in a submission, if you don't want to submit to the official contest, can you send us a link instead? These PSAs would be great to show at DEF CON 19, and if we can, we'd probably like to share some of your clips online so we can get the word out to "Stop. Think. Connect" The contest runs until Feb 14th, Valentines day, so send in your love, send us links, let's get this PSA party started.

Good luck!
Nikita

@niki7a on twitter.
Nikita@Defcon.org
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DEFCON 17 Speaker Update

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:07:38 -0700

Here are a few more talks to keep you going! We have a bunch more coming through the end of the week, so stay tuned. Follow the DEFCON Twitter Feed for announcements as they are posted!

BitTorrent Hacks
Michael Brooks and David Aslanian

Unfair Use - Speculations on the Future of Piracy
Dead Addict

DEFCON 1 - A Personal Account
Dead Addict

Con Kung-Fu:Defending Yourself @ DEFCON
Rob "Padre" DeGulielmo

Router Exploitation
FX

Jackpotting Automated Teller Machines
Barnaby Jack

Something about Network Security
Dan Kaminsky

Malware Freak Show
Nicholas J. Percoco and Jibran Ilyas

That Awesome Time I Was Sued For Two Billion Dollars
Jason Scott

Good Vibrations: Hacking Motion Sickness on the Cheap
Tottenkoph
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DEF CON 19 News! Pool Hijinks, CTF Quals, and Evidence Tampering

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:07:06 -0700

Here's what's going on in the world of DEF CON:

The Pool Is Open!
Bring your suits and stow your tech, because poolside shenanigans in the wee hours are coming back to DEF CON! This year we will have 24hr pool access to Pool 4 (pictured) at the Rio! We're not even April foolin!

DDTek Announces CTF Quals!
It's that time again, and your first step to joining the ranks of leetness that can only come from a win in the DEF CON Capture The Flag. That's right, DDTek has announced the qualification round for the 2011 DEF CON CTF!

Tamper Evident Returns!
DT's Tamper Evident Contest is coming back this year with some new surprises. It might be time to brush up on your super sneaky methods for opening things you aren't supposed to, and keep your eye on the Tamper Evident Forum for details as they surface.

Stay tuned to our Twitter, RSS Feed, or Facebook page for all the news as it happens!

Off The Hook show for January 4, 2012

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:57 -0700

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WINTER ISSUE OF 2600 RELEASED

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:51 -0700

The brand new Winter issue of 2600 is now officially out in all sorts of different places and versions. Hopefully you won't have much trouble finding us in bookstores. You may have more of a challenge finding bookstores in the first place. While we're still getting over the loss of Borders, you should be able to easily find us in every Barnes and Noble and other chains, along with a whole bunch of independent bookstores and newsstands. If you're a subscriber, an issue may have already arrived at your home, office, or school. If you're more of the electronic bent, you will have already received the Winter issue if you have a Kindle subscription. You can also get a Kindle subscription in the U.K. Issues are also available individually in the subscription section. For those of you using Mac and PC devices, individual issues are available in that format as well. You can also get this version in U.K.,France,Spain, Italy, and Germany. We also have a version for the Nook. And we intend to keep adding more, as long as there is a demand.
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HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA SAVED?

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:46 -0700

Possibly.

In a story that all of us seem to have missed a couple of weeks ago (possibly because it was in the New York Post), Vornado Realty Trust is having second thoughts about tearing down the Hotel Penn (home of our biennial HOPE conferences), at least in the near future. There are a number of reasons, none of which are a huge surprise: the overall state of the economy, the prospect of new commercial buildings going up in surrounding areas which will make it all the harder to get tenants for yet another office tower, and the fact that the hotel brings in a ton of money.
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Off The Wall show for January 3, 2012

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:43 -0700

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The Heat is On!

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:33 -0700

There's a ton happening leading up to DEF CON 18 in just twelve more days!

The Mystery Challenge is heating up! Check out the Mystery Challenge forum for the latest hijinks!

We have some bad news, unfortunately the Geo Challenge will not be happening this year. You can read more about this on the Geo Challenge forum. Our sympathy goes out to the organizers for what promised to be a great contest. Definitely look for it next year!

There are some exciting new offerings that have surfaced recently! Among them are:

Dark Tangent is busting out the Tamper Evident Contest, in which you debunk the phrase "Impossible to reseal or re-use", and document how you did it!

The Backdoor Hiding Contest, in which you test your skills at hiding and finding backdoors.

Capture the Packet is a cool new network scavenger hunt. Look for clues, solve puzzles and win prizes!

Crack Me If You Can: 53,000 password hashes, 48 hours, nuff said!

PCB PWNage is a mini contest from the Hardware Hacking Village to find out who can design the coolest PCB!

The Twitter Hunt: Follow @TheSuggmeister and watch for the clues that lead to prizes!

For all the latest info on contests and events at this year's DEF CON, check out the DEF CON Forums!
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Notice to DEFCON 17 CFP Submitters

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:30 -0700

This is just a general reminder, we want to make sure all the submissions sent to us get a fair shot and are reviewed equally. We don't want any submissions missed so we send you an email to let you know it arrived safely. You should receive an acknowledgment of your submission within 48 hours after you have submitted. If you have not received an email from us, please resend your submission to talks at defcon dot org.
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Early Christmas! DEF CON 17 Video and Audio Now Online!

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:28 -0700

That's right kids! Whether you've been naughty or nice, all of the audio and video from DEF CON 17 is now available for download! You can get it by heading to the DEF CON 17 Archive Page, and check out all of the awesome talks you want. You can also get them straight from the iTunes store or from the following RSS Feeds:

Speaker & Slides contains video of the speaker and their slides.

Slides contains video of the slides with speaker audio.

Audio for those you just want to listen to.

We're also considering posting them soon for one massive download over torrent and peer to peer, so stay tuned, and enjoy!!
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DEF CON 18 Talks - Audio is Live!

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:25 -0700

That is correct folks! You can now listen to all of the awesome DEF CON 18 Talks in .m4b Audiobook format! You can find them on the Audio RSS Feed or on the DEF CON 18 Archive Page!

Video is on the way, look for it soon! You can know about it the minute it goes live by keeping up with the DEF CON Facebook page or @_defcon_ on Twitter!
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Mystery Box Wildcard Slot

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:22 -0700

There will be one wildcard (walk-on) team allowed this year. Each year I have people asking about the contest after it is too late. This is my means of dealing with those people. Keep in mind that the first year Mystery Challenge ran a walk-on team won the competition.

Friday morning I will be accepting intentions to compete. THIS MAY CHANGE TO THURSDAY NIGHT. If only one team shows for this position, it is theirs. If multiple teams show, there will be a mini-challenge race to determine who gets the spot.

Anyone who intends to try for the walk on team should email me their intentions prior to con if possible. (DC16MysteryChallenge [at] MysteryChallenge ]dot[ org. This will help me gauge the magnitude of the mini-challenge race, if necessary (and it just helps me get an idea of the number trying out).

See you all in a few weeks.

LosT
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DEFCON Badge Designer Joe Grand's TV Show Premiers Wednesday Oct. 15!

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:07:15 -0700

Off The Hook show for December 28, 2011

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:09:47 -0700

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20TH CENTURY DISCOUNT ABOUT TO END

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:09:46 -0700

We never said it would be permanent.

Since January, we have been offering a 60 percent discount on available back issues from the 20th century. We did this in order to help clear out space in our bulging warehouse and it's worked out quite well. So on January 1st, we're going to be putting the price back to where it was.
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Off The Wall show for December 27, 2011

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:09:45 -0700

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InfoSec in the Boardroom

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:09:42 -0700

Eli Sowash, CISSP As an information security professional, the task of communicating InfoSec concepts and concerns to executive management can sometimes be challenging. That security breaches like Sony, RSA, and Lockheed are grabbing mainstream media attention means security ideas and concerns are increasingly making their way to the boardroom. Since executive support can be one of the most valuable tools in the InfoSec professional’s toolbox, using these case studies with your own management can be a great starting point in letting them know that the security team understands the risks to the business. It’s the job of an organization’s executive...
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Book Review: A Bug Hunters Diary

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:09:36 -0700

A Bug Hunter's Diary: A Guided Tour Through the Wilds of Software Security (http://nostarch.com/bughunter.htm) by Tobias Klein focuses on helping different levels of security professionals understand the approaches used to uncover vulnerabilities, testing the vulnerabilities found and finally reporting on those vulnerabilities. It is short and to the point and offers nothing but valuable content with little to no fluff content. The book was written as though Tobias was writing in a journal as he was progressing through his research of a particular application. Each chapter is a separate journal entry focused on a single application into which he...
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DEF CON 18 Talks - Audio is Live!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:08:03 -0700

DEF CON 18 Archive Page is Live!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:08:01 -0700

The DEF CON 18 Archive Page is up and running! Currently, we have all of the presentation slides, white papers and extras posted, as well as the DEF CON 18 Program in pdf format! Coming in the next week or so we'll have contest results, press, and even a few early release videos! So check it out and begin reliving the glory that was DEF CON 18!
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Keep Up On What's Happening At DEFCON 17!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:07:57 -0700

You can go to the DEFCON Qik Feed or our Qik group and check out we and group members are doing at con! Use the #defcon hashtag on Twitter to search for and make defcon related tweets easier to find!
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Mystery Challenge registration closed

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:07:55 -0700

Mystery Challenge registration is now closed. There will be 1 wildcard team allowed to sign up the first day of Defcon. Should multiple teams desire this position, there will be a mini-contest. Interested parties should email LosT with their intent to try for the wildcard slot.
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DEF CON 18 Updates

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:07:49 -0700

Welcome New DEF CON Groups!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:07:37 -0700

We'd like to welcome the following new groups to the DCG fold!

Domestic
DC317 - Indianapolis, IN
DC614 - Columbus, OH
DC765 - Lafayette, IN
DC909 - Pomona, CA

International
DC00497151 - Stuttgart, Germany
DC00977 - Lalitpur, India
DC02139 - Kiev, Ukraine
DC110006 - Delhi, India
DC15033 - Casale Monferrato, Italy
DC560001 - Bengaluru, India
DC636 - Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
DC700077 - Kolkata, Westbengal, India
DC880 - Dhaka, Bangladesh
DC91022 - Mumbai, India
DC91361 - Guwahati, India

You can find out more about DEF CON Groups on the DCG FAQ, or follow DCG happenings on Facebook!

PhD Dissertation Study in the Contest Area

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:07:26 -0700

Take a short survey at the table next to the Info booth in the Contest Area to participate! Here's more info:

The US electricity infrastructure relies on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) for better efficiency and reliability. However, these systems are susceptible to cyberattacks, which may disrupt essential power services. How cybercriminals rationalize target selection and attack technique is vital in offering a more comprehensive picture of ICS vulnerabilities, cybercrimes, and security. This Rutgers School of Criminal Justice PhD dissertation research project will survey both ethical hackers and industry representatives. It will assess their views on cybervulnerabilities of the electricity sector’s ICS to identify any gaps in their perceptions.
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DEFCON 17 News

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:07:15 -0700

Keep your eyes on the DEFCON 17 site for a page coming soon that will give you the lowdown on all the great DJ's that will spin at DEFCON this year. We'll have pics and bios, as well as sample tracks for download!

Also, due to the great number of awesome talks we're accepting in the 1200 second spotlight, we've decided to make a fifth track for turbo/breakout talks!

So keep watching for more updates, and as always, You can follow the DEFCON Twitter feed for links to the info as it's posted!
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Off The Wall show for December 20, 2011

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:08:59 -0700

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Off The Hook show for December 21, 2011

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:08:56 -0700

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DEF CON 19 News! Pool Hijinks, CTF Quals, and Evidence Tampering

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:08:30 -0700

Here's what's going on in the world of DEF CON:

Stay tuned to our Twitter, RSS Feed, or Facebook page for all the news as it happens!

The Heat is On!

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:08:23 -0700

DEF CON 18 Updates

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:07:54 -0700

DC18 Contest Results and New Speaker's Corner!

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:07:39 -0700

Check out the DEF CON 18 Contest results page for the results of the contests we have received so far! If you ran a contest and have results for us, send them in!

We also have a new Speaker's Corner from Schuyler Towne, discussing his secret agenda for locksport!

Music sets from the pools and the balls at DEF CON 18 are being processed, look for it to be posted next week!
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Video Update

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:07:20 -0700

Off The Wall show for December 13, 2011

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:56 -0700

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LIMITED NUMBER OF DISCOUNTED HOPE TICKETS STILL OBTAINABLE

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:52 -0700

Most of the discounted tickets to HOPE Number Nine have been taken. But not all.
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Off The Hook show for December 14, 2011

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:50 -0700

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CLUB-MATE IS BACK!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:47 -0700

As promised, we've brought more Club-Mate to American shores. Addicts of the insanely popular German energy drink can now celebrate, not only because of the resupply, but because prices have come down and we've got a second flavor.
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November 2011 Free Giveaway Winner - Black Hat Events

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:41 -0700

We Have a Winner!! Black Hat Events was the sponsor last month of EH-Net's Free Monthly Giveaway with a very flexible offering of a free pass for full conference admission to the Black Hat event of your choice between now and the end of 2013. As we mentioned, this one was going to be a little different as winning depended on particpation in the poll and not our normal participation on EH-Net. With that, we used the trusty services of random.org to help pick EH-Net member elwellj as our winner. Congrats! For those unfamiliar, The Black Hat Briefings are a series...
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More DEF CON 18 Press!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:22 -0700

We've updated the press page with even more DEF CON 18 coverage! Most of the new stuff can be found in the "Other" Category, and in a new category called "Video Coverage" which contains recaps, badge hacks, goon hijinks and more! Check them out on the Press Page, or the DEF CON 18 Archive Page!
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Hacker Jeopardy, Hacker Pyramid and Closing Ceremonies Video!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:20 -0700

Even though Halloween has come and gone, we have some tasty video treats for your viewing pleasure! Check out the videos from 10,000¢ Hacker Pyramid, Hacker Jeopardy, and the DEF CON 19 Closing Ceremonies, and you can enjoy or re-live some of the fun we had at DEF CON 19!

10,000¢ Hacker Pyramid and Hacker Jeopardy - Friday Night
10,000¢ Hacker Pyramid and Hacker Jeopardy - Saturday Night

DEF CON 19 Closing Ceremonies

DEFCON 17 Press Page Updated!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:10:15 -0700

Head on over to the DEFCON Press Page and check out the news from this year's show! You can also find the press listed on the DEFCON 17 Archives Page! If you've come across a good article on DEFCON 17 that you think should be up there, don't hesitate to send it to neil {at} defcon }dot{ org for posting!
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First round of DEFCON 16 speakers selected!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:09:39 -0700

The first round of speakers have been selected for DEFCON 16, and it looks like we have a great lineup going! The selection process is coming along nicely and we should have the next batch of speakers online by the middle of next week.

Here are the titles and speakers for the talks so far, alpha by speaker:

Time-Based Blind SQL Injection using heavy queries: A practical approach for MS SQL Server, MS Access, Oracle and MySQL databases and Marathon Tool
Chema Alonso, José Parada

VulnCatcher: Fun with Vtrace and Programmatic Debugging
atlas

Owning the Users with Agent in the Middle
Jay Beale

The emergence (and use) of Open Source Warfare
Peter Berghammer

What To Do When Your Data Winds Up Where It Shouldn't
Don Blumenthal

Generic, Decentralized, Unstoppable Anonymity: The Phantom Protocol
Magnus Bråding

Bypassing pre-boot authentication passwords by instrumenting the BIOS keyboard buffer (practical low level attacks against x86 pre-boot authentication software)
Jonanthan Brossard

Building a Real Session Layer
D.J. Capelis

Hacking E.S.P.
Joe Cicero, Michael Vieau

Climbing Everest: An Insider's Look at one state's Voting Systems
Sandy Clark "Mouse"

Could Googling Take Down a President, a Prime Minister, or an Average Citizen?
Greg Conti

Next Generation Collaborative Reversing with Ida Pro and CollabREate
Chris Eagle, Tim Vidas

Ask EFF: The Year in Digital Civil Liberties Panel
Kevin Bankston, Eva Galperin, Jennifer Granick, Marcia Hofmann, Corynne McSherry, Kurt Opsahl

Panel: Hacking in the Name of Science
Tadayoshi Kohno, Jon Callas, Alexei Czeskis, Dan Halperin, Karl Koscher

de-Tor-iorate Anonymity
Nathan Evans, Christian Grothoff

Nmap: Scanning the Internet
Fyodor

BSODomizer
Joe "Kingpin" Grand, Zoz

Satan is on my Friends list: Attacking Social Networks
Nathan Hamiel, Shawn Moyer

A Hacker Looks at 50
G. Mark Hardy

War Ballooning-Kismet Wireless "Eye in the Sky"
Rick Hill

The Death of Cash: The loss of anonymity and other dangers of the cash free society
Tony Howlett

Intercepting Mobile Phone/GSM Traffic
David Hulton, "Skyper"

Ham For Hackers - Take Back the Airwaves
JonM

Career Mythbusters: Separating Fact from Fiction in your Information Security Career
Lee Kushner, Mike Murray

Developments in Cisco IOS Forensics
"FX" Felix Lindner

Good Viruses. Evaluating the Risks
Dr. Igor Muttik

Brain Games: Make your own Biofeedback Video Game
Ne0nRain
Joe "Kingpin" Grand

VoIPER: Smashing the VoIP stack while you sleep
N.N.P.

Hacking OpenVMS
Christer Öberg, Claes Nyberg, James Tusini

365-Day: Active Https Cookie Hijacking
Mike Perry

Malware Detection through Network Flow Analysis
Bruce Potter

The true story of the Radioactive Boyscout: The first nuclear hacker and how his work relates to Homeland Security's model of the dirty bomb
Paul F. Renda

CAPTCHAs: Are they really hopeless? (Yes)
Mike Spindel, Scott Torborg

Living in the RIA World
Alex Stamos, David Thiel, Justine Osborne

Xploiting Google Gadgets: Gmalware and Beyond
Tom "strace" Stracener, Robert "Rsnake" Hansen

TBA
Marc Weber Tobias

How to make Friends & Influence Lock Manufacturers
Schuyler Towne, Jon King

Compliance: The Enterprise Vulnerability Roadmap
Weasel

Mobile Hacker Space
Thomas Wilhelm

To read more about these talks, go to the speaker page at http://www.defcon.org/html/defcon-16/dc-16-speakers.html!

DEFCON Badge Designer Joe Grand's TV Show Premiers Wednesday Oct. 15!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:09:30 -0700

Defcon.org is Being Remodeled!

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:09:28 -0700

It's all behind the scenes of course, but defcon.org is currently being re-worked a bit to enhance the community aspect of the site, refresh some of the older content, and become more mobile friendly. Keep an eye out over the next several weeks for changes and enhancements to the site!
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New Happenings at DEFCON 16

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:08:21 -0700

Well folks, the time for the 16th installment of the hacking convention known as DEFCON draws near, and this year promises to be a great one! We've got more content than ever, including 5 full tracks of talks, demos, workshops, new contests, a new Hardware Hacking Village, and even a new EFF fundraiser to replace the dunk tank! Here is some of the goodness you can expect:

DAVIX Visualization Workshop
At this "Bring Your Own Laptop" workshop we will introduce you to DAVIX. The workshop starts with an introduction to the set of available tools, the integrated manual, as well as customizing the CD to your needs. In a second part, you can use DAVIX to analyze a set of provided packet captures. In the end we will show some of the visualizations created by the participants. Be prepared for pretty and meaningful pictures! Get more info at: https://forum.defcon.org/forumdisplay.php?f=425

Mobile Hacker Spaces
Interested in visiting a Colorado Hacker Space here at DefCon 16? Check out the first ever Mobile Hacker Space, which will be parked in the outside chill out area during the convention. Try your hand against one of the challenges in the pentest lab, or learn from the web-based tutorials posted on the open network. Participation is encouraged, and presentations will be given every day from 2-4pm, which will provide a more hands-on look at how the Mobile Hacker Space operates and fits within published hacker space design patterns. Make sure you also attend the presentation on the history and design of the Colorado Springs Mobile Hacking Space on Sunday, at 1pm in Track One. Forums link: https://forum.defcon.org/forumdisplay.php?f=428

Quantum Spookshow
Quantum mechanics make possible some things that are impossible in the "classical" world of ordinary experience, and which even seem to contradict common sense. Some of these spooky effects are coming into practical use in security applications. The Quantum Spookshow of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) demonstrates quantum cryptography and quantum entanglement on a four-node quantum network, which supports quantum encrypted streaming video and violations of local realism. Participants are encouraged to interact with the light beams that constitute the physical link of this network, and to meet physicists who have designed and built quantum networks. Quantum mechanics provides methods of encryption that are secure from eavesdropping attacks against the quantum channel, but in any actual system there are points of vulnerability, e.g. correlations of classical noise in the operation of quantum elements. Participants will have a chance to discover vulnerabilities by hands-on interaction with our systems.

Hours: 10:00-18:00 on Friday and Saturday with Sunday, closing around 16:00
Location: 114. Directly across from the Contest area.

EFF Fundraiser
This year we decided to replace our beloved Dunk Tank with something NEW!
Hackers and Guns in Las Vegas – Ya gotta love it.

You've seen it played out numerous times in movies and on TV. A flash bang grenade goes off. SWAT kicks in the door and moves quickly to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys in the same room. How do they train to effectively recognize and take out the bad guys, while not wasting any of the hostages? One of the tools they use is a Firearms training Simulator or FATS system and someone was foolish enough to let us get our hands on one for DEFCON 16.

So… Calling all Shooters, FPS Gamers, Psycho Killers, and 1337 wannabes. Come on by and pop a cap in someone’s VR ass. We will be set up in room 115 across from the contest area and next door to the Quantum Spookshow from 10:00 – 20:00. See if you got the skillz to make it through the challenges unscathed. Then the next time you hear a knock at your door in the middle of the night - you'll be ready. More at: https://forum.defcon.org/forumdisplay.php?f=427
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Thursday Talks Line-up at DEFCON 17

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:07:35 -0700

Hacker Jeopardy Slides + Audio

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:07:14 -0700

Here's a tasty morsel for you, slide video with audio of this year's Hacker Jeopardy! We don't often see this, so if you're interested in playing next year or just want to get an idea of what it's about, this is a great resource!

DEF CON 18 Hacker Jeopardy - Friday Part 1
DEF CON 18 Hacker Jeopardy - Friday Part 2
DEF CON 18 Hacker Jeopardy - Saturday Part 1
DEF CON 18 Hacker Jeopardy - Saturday Part 2
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Off The Wall show for December 6, 2011

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:37 -0700

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BEYOND HOPE VIDEO ARCHIVE GOES ONLINE THIS WEEKEND

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:35 -0700

Following up on the release of our first HOPE conference videos last month on blip.tv, we're going to be releasing the 18 videos from Beyond HOPE online this weekend. Beyond HOPE was our second conference which took place in 1997, from August 8th to the 10th, and the only HOPE conference not to take place at the Hotel Pennsylvania. As we did last month, we will be rolling out the talks hour by hour, in the order in which they were given.
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Off The Hook show for December 7, 2011

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:31 -0700

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SECOND BATCH OF HOPE TICKETS GO ON SALE SATURDAY

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:28 -0700

The second batch of tickets to HOPE Number Nine are going to be available at 2:00 pm ET, (11:00 am PT, 1900 UTC, 12:45 am in Nepal) on Saturday, December 10th.
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Christmas Deal on DEF CON 19 DVD Sets From TSOK!

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:23 -0700

If you're looking for the perfect Hacker gift, you can purchase the full DVD sets from DEF CON 19 from The Source of Knowledge at discounted prices up through Christmas Eve!
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Notice to DEFCON 17 CFP Submitters

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:22 -0700

Stop. Think. Connect. A Special DHS, PSA Contest

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:19 -0700

DEFCON 17 Early Release Videos!

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:18 -0700

Check out some of the hot presentations from DEFCON 17! We'll be releasing all of the videos for free a few months out, but for now we've chosen a few we think you might enjoy! If you'd like to purchase the entire DVD collection of the DEFCON 17 presentations, you can do so at The Source of Knowledge website.

Failure
Adam Savage
Video | Audio

"Smart" Parking Meter Implementations, Globalism, and You
Joe Grand, Jake Appelbaum, and Chris Tarnovsky
Video and Slides | Slides | Audio

More Tricks for Defeating SSL
Moxie Marlinspike
Video and Slides | Slides | Audio

The Day of the Updates
Itzik Kotler and Tomer Bitton
Slides | Audio

Advancing Video Application Attacks with Video Interception, Recording, and Replay
Jason Ostrom and Arjun Sambamoorthy
Slides | Audio

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DEFCON 17 Receipt Posted, Aaaand We're Spent...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:17 -0700

We'll we've made it back to our respective homes, with another awesome DEFCON on the books! We are now in recovery mode, and normal updating will resume next week! The DEFCON 17 Receipt of Admission is now posted! Thanks to all for making this a fantastic DEFCON!
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DEF CON 18 Updates

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:15 -0700

Thursday Talks Line-up at DEFCON 17

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:13 -0700

More Talks for DEFCON 17!

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:11 -0700

Here's another great round of talks to get you excited for DEFCON 17!

DefCon 101
HighWiz, The Dark Tangent, Russr, DJ Jackalope, Deviant Ollam, Thorn, ThePrez98, Lost, Siviak

Session Donation
Alex Amrani

Sniff Keystrokes With Lasers/Voltmeters - Side Channel Attacks Using Optical Sampling Of Mechanical Energy And Power Line Leakage
Andrea Barisani and Daniele Bianco

Hijacking Web 2.0 Sites with SSLstrip--Hands-on Training
Sam Bowne

Attacking SMS. It's No Longer Your BFF
Brandon Dixon

Breaking the "Unbreakable" Oracle with Metasploit
Chris Gates and Mario Ceballos

Injectable Exploits: Two New Tools for Pwning Web Apps and Browsers
Kevin Johnson, Justin Searle and Frank DiMaggio

eXercise in Messaging and Presence Pwnage
Ava Latrope

Defcon Security Jam 2: The Fails Keep on Coming
David Mortman

Hacking Sleep: How to Build Your Very Own Sleep Lab
Ne0nRa1n and Keith Biddulph

RFID MythBusting
Chris Paget

Search And Seizure Explained - They Took My Laptop!
Tyler Pitchford, Esq.

Fragging Game Servers
Bruce Potter and Logan Lodge

Hackerspaces: The Legal Bases
RogueClown

Debaze - A Remote Method Enumeration Tool for Flex Servers
Jon Rose

Bluetooth, Smells Like Chicken.
Dominic Spill, Michael Ossmann and Mark Steward

"I Am Walking Through a City Made of Glass and I Have a Bag Full of Rocks" (Dispelling the Myths and Discussing the Facts of Global Cyber-Warfare)
Jayson Street

Dangerous Minds: The Art of Guerrilla Data Mining
Mark Ryan Del Moral Talabis

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DEFCON 17 Press Page Updated!

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:07:05 -0700

Off The Wall show for November 29, 2011

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:09:33 -0700

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2600 CYBER MONDAY SPECIALS ONLINE - PLEASE BEHAVE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:09:32 -0700

While our holiday specials are indeed something to get hysterical about, there's no reason why we have to behave like the WalMart crowds. We're better than that. So if you decide to visit our online store to take advantage of prices so low we're practically giving it all away, please remain calm and remember that others are also in the store trying to get the best value. There's no need for denial of service attacks, buffer overflows, or pepper spray exploits. We will do our best to accommodate everyone.
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Off The Hook show for November 30, 2011

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:09:30 -0700

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December 2011 Free Giveaway Sponsor - SANS

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:09:28 -0700

Win Seat in SANS Event Simulcast = $4600!! SANS Event Simulcast (http://www.sans.org/info/92539). Simply log in to a virtual classroom to see, hear, and participate in the class as it is being presented LIVE at the event. The Event Simulcast option is available for many classes offered at our largest training events. 1 top EH-Net contributor will win their choice of the following courses at SANS 2012 starting March 25 (component/option,com_smf/Itemid,54/topic,8201.0/): - SEC401: Registration Is FREE! (index.php?option=com_smf Itemid=35 action=register) Discuss in Forums
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CASP The Evolution of Technical Security Certifications?

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:09:24 -0700

CompTIA has been a stalwart in the IT certification arena for quite a number of years. They have dominated the space with such recognized credentials as A+, Linux+, Security+ and many others. Their certifications have been highly recommended by The Ethical Hacker Network (EH-Net) as well as countless others as an entry-point into a given area of IT. But can CompTIA help advance the careers of those already in the field of their choice within IT? Enter CompTIA’s newest line of industry credentials, the Mastery Series of Certifications. The first offering from this new line is the CompTIA Advanced Security...
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Hacker News

Off The Hook show for February 1, 2012

THE YES MEN TO KEYNOTE AT HOPE NUMBER NINE

DISCOUNTED RATES FOR HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA NOW AVAILABLE FOR HOPE DATES

Off The Wall show for January 31, 2012

February 2012 Free Giveaway Sponsor - Global Knowledge

DEF CON 18 Press And Early Video!

DEFCON 17 CFP Update

Merry Christmas from DEF CON! Here's a Special Gift!

Thursday Talks Line-up at DEFCON 17

Video Update

The Community Delivers Great Mobile Options for DEFCON 17!

DEFCON FORUMS now support user blogs

Off The Wall show for January 24, 2012

Off The Hook show for January 25, 2012

Top 5 Tips To Make Social Engineering Your Career

More DEF CON 19 News

Follow the Post-Con discussion on the DEFCON Forums

Post DEFCON 16 items of note

DEF CON 18 Updates

The Riviera - Good Changes for DEFCON 17

2600 WEBSITES TO GO BLACK ON WEDNESDAY

HOPE NUMBER NINE SPEAKER SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

Off The Hook show for January 18, 2012

Off The Wall show for January 17, 2012

DEF CON Archives Complete!

DEF CON 18 Event/Contest Update!

That's Right.. We're Posting More DC 18 Speakers...

DEF CON HQ Update

DEFCON Badge Designer Joe Grand's TV Show Premiers Wednesday Oct. 15!

DEFCON 16 Press Page Updated

Re-encoded Past DEFCON Content!

HOPE NUMBER NINE PREREGISTRATION ONLINE

Off The Hook show for January 11, 2012

Off The Wall show for January 10, 2012

December 2011 Free Giveaway Winner - SANS

Stop. Think. Connect. A Special DHS, PSA Contest

DEFCON 17 Speaker Update

DEF CON 19 News! Pool Hijinks, CTF Quals, and Evidence Tampering

Off The Hook show for January 4, 2012

WINTER ISSUE OF 2600 RELEASED

HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA SAVED?

Off The Wall show for January 3, 2012

The Heat is On!

Notice to DEFCON 17 CFP Submitters

Early Christmas! DEF CON 17 Video and Audio Now Online!

DEF CON 18 Talks - Audio is Live!

Mystery Box Wildcard Slot

DEFCON Badge Designer Joe Grand's TV Show Premiers Wednesday Oct. 15!

Off The Hook show for December 28, 2011

20TH CENTURY DISCOUNT ABOUT TO END

Off The Wall show for December 27, 2011

InfoSec in the Boardroom

Book Review: A Bug Hunters Diary

DEF CON 18 Talks - Audio is Live!

DEF CON 18 Archive Page is Live!

Keep Up On What's Happening At DEFCON 17!

Mystery Challenge registration closed

DEF CON 18 Updates

Welcome New DEF CON Groups!

PhD Dissertation Study in the Contest Area

DEFCON 17 News

Off The Wall show for December 20, 2011

Off The Hook show for December 21, 2011

DEF CON 19 News! Pool Hijinks, CTF Quals, and Evidence Tampering

The Heat is On!

DEF CON 18 Updates

DC18 Contest Results and New Speaker's Corner!

Video Update

Off The Wall show for December 13, 2011

LIMITED NUMBER OF DISCOUNTED HOPE TICKETS STILL OBTAINABLE

Off The Hook show for December 14, 2011

CLUB-MATE IS BACK!

November 2011 Free Giveaway Winner - Black Hat Events

More DEF CON 18 Press!

Hacker Jeopardy, Hacker Pyramid and Closing Ceremonies Video!

DEFCON 17 Press Page Updated!

First round of DEFCON 16 speakers selected!

DEFCON Badge Designer Joe Grand's TV Show Premiers Wednesday Oct. 15!

Defcon.org is Being Remodeled!

Book Review: A Bug Hunters Diary

CASP The Evolution of Technical Security Certifications?