DEF CON Conference

DEF CON is an annual hacker convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It is also known as DEFCON, Defcon, or DC. DEF CON, founded in 1993 by Jeff Moss, is today regarded as one of the world’s most prominent and well-known computer security conferences.

Computer security specialists, journalists, lawyers, federal government personnel, security researchers, students, and hackers are among those who attend the event.

DEF CON serves as a forum for the newest innovations in software, computer architecture, hardware modification, conference badges, and anything else that can be “hacked.”

The conference features many speaker tracks covering a wide range of computer and hacking issues, cyber-security challenges, and competitions known as hacking wargames. DEF CON is famed for its contests, which range from constructing the longest Wi-Fi connection to figuring out the best way to cool a drink in the Nevada heat. Lockpicking, robotics-related contests, art, slogan, coffee wars, scavenger hunt, and Capture the Flag (CTF) are among the other contests.

The most well-known of these competitions is Capture the Flag, which is a hacking competition in which teams of hackers seek to assault and defend computers and networks using software and network structures. CTF has been used as a model at other hacking conferences, as well as in academic and military settings (as red team exercises). Workshops, villages, and parties are also part of DEF CON.

The event has grown in popularity over the years, with federal law enforcement officers from numerous agencies, including the FBI, DoD, US Postal Inspection Service, DHS (through CISA), and others, attending on a regular basis. Despite its reputation, DEF CON maintains that the conference is primarily a chance for people to learn new things and share ideas in a friendly and welcoming environment.

DEF CON was started in 1993 as a farewell party for Jeff Moss’s acquaintance, a fellow hacker, and member of “Platinum Net,” a Canadian hacking network based on the FidoNet protocol. The party was scheduled for Las Vegas a few days before his pal was scheduled to depart the country because his father had taken a job outside of the nation. However, his friend’s father left early with his friend, leaving Jeff alone with the entire party planned. Instead, Jeff decided to invite all of his hacker pals to join him in Las Vegas for the celebration. With about 100 people in attendance, hacker pals from all over got together and created the groundwork for DEF CON.

The term “DEF CON” is derived from the film WarGames, which alluded to the United States Armed Forces’ defense readiness status (DEFCON). In the film, Las Vegas was chosen as a nuclear target, and because the convention was being held there, Jeff Moss chose the term DEF CON. CON, on the other hand, stands for the convention, and DEF is derived from the letters on the number 3 on a telephone keypad, a reference to phreakers. Any spelling variation other than “DEF CON” could be considered a violation of the DEF CON brand. The conference’s official name has a space between DEF and CON.

DEF CON celebrated its 27th anniversary in 2019, with an anticipated 30,000 attendees. The conference was a huge success, and the community is still growing. DEF CON’s 20th anniversary was commemorated with the production of a documentary film, DEFCON: The Documentary, which follows the four days of the conference, events, and attendees.