Mad props brother Colin! +1+1 Sent from my iPhone
On 2013-08-04, at 23:52, "Colin Stanners" <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. > > _______________________________________________ > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ _______________________________________________ SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/
