This is my first time going to this huge technology/hacker conference in LasVegas (also BSidesLV). It was an incredible experience and I realize I should have followed suggestions to go a long time ago.
I'd like to help other technically-minded people grab the same opportunity, so assuming the $1K+ pricetag isn't inaccessible to you due to life/work preoccupations, here are a few reasons why you really should go. The TALKS range from: *analyzing/emulating the signals of everything from tiny RFID tags to full-sized aircraft. *detecting non-discovery-mode Bluetooth devices a few feet away to HF devices hundreds of miles away. *gleaming data from huge sets of social media profiles to socially-engineering one's way inside the heads of top security people. *learning about people who have dedicated much of their lives to small detailed projects to those who have started huge companies/worldwide efforts in their garages. The VILLAGES: Even without the talks, you could spend the whole conference around these areas learning the finer details of wireless theory/protocols/SDR, picking locks and tamper-detection devices, understanding/tweaking people through social engineering, and assembling/designing/repairing electronics. I actually wish these were on separate days so I could have attended them much more. The PARTIES: Take the superb IOActive party in one of LV's fanciest hotel suites: *in the main "atrium" an expert presented high resolution pictures of the traces inside chips and explained in detail how he'd use lasers to re-wire those circuits to his wishes. *rooms in one corner of the suite had a free bar and back messages all day to relax the weary attendees. *in the other corner a room was converted to an electronics assembly lab where attendees manually placed components as small as 2mm sq on circuit boards that were then "cooked" on a griddle and programmed so they'd have a credit-card sized multiprotocol RFID cloner to take home. If you enjoy electronic music like I do, every night had multiple fun parties in and outside of the con, with guests ranging from obscure acts to a wonderful set by bt himself. For those of other musical preferences, nearby venues - some in the same hotel - cater to almost any taste. The CONTESTS: I didn't have the time to get involved, but if you do and want to compete in a wide variety of technical challenges with some very creative and dedicated teams, look these up. The PEOPLE: *many of the presenters are at the top of their fields, and use the con as an occasion for big announcements and next-generation news. *while I disagree with unnecessarily "talking to people", many attendees who enjoy that speak highly of making large numbers of friends/contacts at this conference and surrounding events. The PLACE: It's Las Vegas! From artistically/human-effortly impressive Cirque du Soleil shows, to technical feats like the Fremont street experience, or if you want to be weird and sneak through the huge rainwater ducts under the city, the occasions outside the con are also notable and impressive. DEFCON happens every year around the first week of August. Assuming that my Japanese language skills / the North Korean situation haven't improved enough for my travels to either of those countries to happen next summer, I will definitely go there again.
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