DEF CON has been a part of the hacker community for over two decades. Pick up a bit of history and origin by watching DEF CON - The Documentary, and by checking out the About Page. The DEF CON FAQ has the answers to most of the common questions you might have.
The Most Dangerous Game' was made in 1932, but you can still hear its echoes in modern cinema. It's a surprisingly tense pre-code thriller about bored rich creeps who hunt humans for sport, and it walked so 'Predator' could run. Good fun, and a subtext that finds its way into movies a lot more often than you think. Watch this space for some more discussion of the film and join us in the DEF CON Discord Server Saturday Night at 8pm PST (discord.gg/defcon/) in movie-night-text and movie-night-voice.
This week, we are going to continue the simul-tubing experiment with 'IT! The Terror from Beyond Space" - a solid sci-fi thriller from 1958 that's one of the main inspirations for 'Alien'.
In case it isn't readable, that movie poster promises $50,000 to anyone who can prove the creature from the movie is NOT on Mars. You gotta respect a film that stands behind its premise.
Please join us November 28, 8PM PST in the DEF CON Discord (discord.gg/defcon/) in movie-night-text.
Next week's movie will be the classic 80s hacker film 'War Games'.
"But how? Don't the terms and conditions at discord forbid sharing copyrighted content?"
Fair question.
If we showed the movie in discord, we could run into issues. However, 'War Games' is showing for free on YouTube, praised be the internets.
So the plan is to make it a double header. For the first hour, we'll show a talk from DEF CON 16 where The Dark Tangent interviews David Scott Lewis, engineer, consultant and the model for the David Lightman character in War Games. It's a fascinating interview that will give you a lot of insight into the main feature. If you want to watch it early, it's available at https://youtu.be/hHDJpYBVgz0.
Then, when the interview is over, we'll all synchronize watches and start up 'War Games' on YouTube. We'll still hang out and talk in movie-night-text like every week.
Hopefully, stuff like this expands the pool of available content to be Movie Nighted, and if it works we'll do it again from time to time.
Hope you'll join us at 8pm PST, November 21 in discord.gg/defcon/ in movie-night-text and movie-night-voice, and help us kick things up a notch.
This week's movie night will feature the 2014 hacker movie 'Algorithm', and we'll be joined by the writer/director Jon Schiefer! Bring your questions and join us on Saturday at 8pm Pacific Time in the DEF CON Discord (https://discord.gg/defcon/) in channels movie-night-voice and movie-night-text.
In honor of the five new states that legalized marijuana in this week's US elections, DEF CON Movie Night is showing the original 'Reefer Madness'. First released in1936, this anti-marijuana propaganda piece began as a church-funded film called 'Tell Your Children'. Designed to scare kids away from 'jazz cigarettes', the plot revolves wide-eyed teens lurching from innocence to utter depravity after a brief dalliance with what was likely some very weak-sauce Depression-era weed. Unintentional hilarity follows.
The filmmakers overplay their hand to such an extent that the film probably encouraged more stoners than it inhibited, and it became a cult favorite of pot enthusiasts and connoisseurs of badfilm in the 70s and inspired a remake in the 2000s.
We'll also be showing the (very) short film created in 1942 by the US government to encourage the growing of hemp. 'Hemp for Victory' was produced and for many years disavowed by the Department of Agriculture, and while it's not as riotously funny as 'Reefer Madness' it is not without charm. It's also pretty informative about the business side of a pretty remarkable family of plants.
Join us for some laughs and a pinch of agriculture propaganda at 8pm Pacific on Saturday Nov 7 in the DEF CON Discord (https://discord.gg/defcon/) in movie-night-text and movie-night-voice. Download iCal
Waiting on election results? Pass the time by getting yourself up to speed on the many facets of election security! We've got a bunch of resources you can peruse. Take what you need, share where it's needed, follow @VotingVillageDC on Twitter and if you can, get involved in the fight for secure elections.
Save the Date:
DEF CON’s first New Year’s Eve Party
December 31, 2020 through January 1, 2021(Download iCal)
Let’s ring in the New Year together! We’re putting together a free online party for the global DEF CON Community. Join us on our Discord server (https://discord.gg/defcon/) for some low-key DC-style amusements like Hacker Jeopardy, Drunk Hacker History, live music, movies - you know how we do. No talks, no lines, plenty of hacker fellowship and shenanigans.
We’ll provide the tunes, the games and contests, even some ‘celebrity’ bartenders. You just bring your dancing shoes and the refreshments of your choice.
#Halloween2020 falls on a #defconmovienight - so we’re showing George Romero's groundbreaking (and public domain!) zombie thriller ‘Night of the Living Dead’!
If Halloween is on hold where you are, join us at 8pm PDT (GMT-7) 10/31 in discord.gg/defcon in movie-night-text and movie-night-voice!
#defconmovienight this Saturday will be an old school hacker doc double feature: #freedomdowntime and #unauthorizedaccess. Join us October 17 at 8pm PDT (GMT-7) in discord.gg/defcon in movie-night-text
https://forum.defcon.org/node/235346
This week’s #defconmovienight selection is ‘Algiers’ nominated for 4 Oscars and American debut film of #hedylamarr - screen legend and patent holder for an early frequency-hopping ‘secret communication device’.
Join us Saturday at 8pm PDT (GMT-7) in discord.gg/defcon in movie-night-text and movie-night-voice
DEF CON movie night returns 10/3 with another public domain jewel—1950 meta-noir ‘D.O.A’. Decades ahead of its time, DOA subverts the hardened gumshoe genre by forcing the protagonist to solve his own poisoning before he dies. It’s truly one of the greats—don't sleep on this one.
Join us at 8pm PDT (GMT-7) in discord.gg/defcon in movie-night-text and movie-night-voice. BYO Good-n-Plenty.
The DEF CON Safe mode mega torrent races to its #finalform - DEF CON Groups presentations, art, social media reactions.. get your hands on everything on https://media.defcon.org!
Friendly #defconsafemode reminder - we recorded the Q and A sessions for a bunch of the #defcon talks, so even if you've watched the talks on YouTube you might wanna check on this playlist of speaker/attendee interaction.
The DEF CON Safe Mode Glitch Hoodie is back in stock. Keep your look hacker fresh and be the envy of all who behold you. Available while supplies last in the DEF CON eBay Store.
The DEF CON Safe Mode enormo-torrent is live! Make sure your internets are hydrated and limber - there’s over 400 videos in there. Villages, contests, PCAPs and tons of music. Indulge your inner info-glutton, and make sure to #passitalong.
The first round of press links from DEF CON Safe Mode is live on defcon.org. We'll update as we find more links. If you find something interesting we missed, let us know at info@defcon.org.
Now that #DEFCONSafeMode is in the books, we’ve got a thread for feedback on #defconforums. Share your stories, make suggestions, pass along your thoughts on our first virtual event. We are beyond grateful that so many of you took the leap of faith with us, and we want to hear from you.
Luminous humans of #DEFCON, #SafeMode is now in the books. The time to celebrate the many Contest Winners is at hand. We also celebrate everyone who competed - just the tiniest bit less, to keep everybody motivated. Congratulations to those who found glory. Encouragement and gratitude to those who didn’t this time. The real victory is the friends we made along the way, who were inside our hearts all along.
We want to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who entered the DEF CON Safe Mode Art Contest. We’re always amazed at the level of talent in this community.
This year’s runner up is a stylish meditation on the profusion of connectivities that characterize modern life by Rita Tu.
Much like Highlanders, however, in the end there can be only one. This year’s highlander is @hannahdiazart. The entry has both wide-eyed discovery (very on theme) and boxes full of random electronics (super relatable). Also a robot dinosaur. It communicates something about the hacker spirit that is both warm and life-affirming.
Congratulations to Hannah and Rita and thanks again to everyone who participated.
To get the party started, we’re releasing a bunch of the content early. Over on the media server, we’ve got all of the main stage talks and materials, the soundtrack, demo labs, art, CTF, music - take what you like. Completists out there, we see you. There’s a very thicc torrent file as well. Take some time to watch the talks you’ve been waiting for at your leisure, so you’re ready for the live Q&A sessions starting Thursday. This will be the first DEF CON where you won’t have to pick between main stage talks and the rest of the show, so take advantage. If you had plans, we apologize.
DEF CON Safe Mode is almost here! We hope you’re as excited as we are. For everyone looking to support DEF CON in this unusually difficult time, we have a new option for you to consider - Human PLUS.
Safe Mode is free to all Humans, but you can upgrade to Human Plus for $20 USD on the DEF CON Discord for a few upgraded privileges. You get stuff like the ability to post pics and links, change your nick, access to Plus only chill out rooms and the good feeling that you’ve helped keep DEF CON alive until we meet again in Vegas. The information is all spelled out on https://defcon.org/html/defcon-safemode/dc-safemode-plus.html.
Your support makes DEF CON possible, and we appreciate all the encouragement and enthusiasm you’ve brought to this first-time online event. Thanks for sticking with us - we can’t wait until we get to do it again in person. DEF CON hearts you.
More DEF CON Safe Mode News - The Villages Page is LIVE! Check out the 30 (!) villages that are taking part and start planning your Con. Links are provided to the appropriate DEF CON forum nodes for each village and the various info you’ll need to participate. We’re almost there, people. #getpsyched!
The ever-popular DEF CON Demo Labs are returning for #defconsafemode! Support open-source hotness and the work of your fellow hackers and maybe even get some inspiration for your own projects. The full list of offerings is live on the DEF CON Demo Labs Page!
It’s #defconsafemode alert time again! The main track talk schedule and speaker page for #defcon28 is now #live! Permission to get psyched is #granted. More announcements on the way!
Here at the DEF CON Research Institute, we’ve been working hard to unlock the perfect blend of mind-expanding content and sweaty dancefloor abandon that makes the perfect Con experience. You’ll be happy to know that we’re applying that research to the #defconsafemode experiment.
Friday and Saturday night, we’ll be providing tasty beats from the likes of Miss Jackalope, Skittish and Bus and Ninjula. Head over to the Safe Mode Entertainment Page for the complete lineup.
The DEF CON Safe Mode badge is here! This year’s model is created by the inimitable LostboY, veteran DEF CON badge and Mystery Challenge creator. While the physical format may be unfamiliar to the youngest among you, seasoned players will recognize it as a ‘cassette tape’ - an analog recording format consisting of a ribbon of magnetic tape and a plastic housing to keep your dirty fingers away from said tape. More on the DEF CON Safe Mode Badge Page
DEF CON Safe Mode is almost here! If you’re just getting around to checking out the offerings, here’s a little roundup of the stuff you need to know.
Visit the Forums: The planning for the many events of DEF CON Safe Mode is all happening on the DEF CON Forums. Whether you want to register for an event, offer to help out with a village, or just get a start on planning your DC weekend, you can find the relevant thread in the DC28 planning forum.
#Badgelife is still in effect: The DEF CON community creates a lot of really amazing badges, many of which are available for sale and/or trade. You can catch up with the community badges on the DEF CON Forums #badgeleife thread. You can also follow the hashtag #badgelife on Twitter and Instagram.
Of course, DEF CON has a badge this year, too. We’ll be announcing it quite soon. It’s the creation of returning puzzle master LosT (@1o57), so you’ll want to set aside some time to unock its mysteries.
Swag: If you’re wondering how to get your hands on DEF CON Safe Mode swag this year, we’ve got you covered over on the DEF CON eBay store!
So dive in! Get yourself set up on Discord and Twitch, fire up the DEF CON stream on soma fm for some musical inspiration and get your mind right. DEF CON 28 will be upon us before you know it.
We’ve got some brand new #DEFCONSafeMode items available at the DEF CON eBay store - a very cool pin, new flag, and a new tee and hoody with our beloved Jack in #glitchmode. Tighten up your Zoom game with a fresh new look!
Reminder to all the hacker scribes out there - the DEF CON Safe Mode Short Story Contest closes July 1! Don't let procrastination rob you of your chance at glory and fabulous prizes!
We’re keeping a calendar over on the DEF CON Forums with all the deadlines for content. As a bunch of these deadlines are imminent, it’s worth throwing a bookmark down on it. While you’re there you can also get involved in all sorts of planning discussions - your help and feedback are a big part of making this happen. Don’t miss the opportunity to help shape DEF CON Safe Mode.
To DEF CON, Black lives matter. Justice matters. Accountability matters.
Acts performed by those with a badge are performed by the consent of all of us - because the authority of the badge ultimately does not belong to its bearer. The authority of the badge is on loan from us, the people.
There are real inequities in the way the law is applied to Black people in America. These inequities, rooted in the very foundations of the country, are stubborn things. They persist, and we are all accountable for them. With that accountability comes an obligation to make things right, to see justice done wherever it’s been denied, and work for a better tomorrow.
We have donated $5,000 to The Bail Project and $5,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in hopes that our little company can show some solidarity with the movement and help build that better world we all want.
As far as I’m concerned, none of this is political, or even controversial. I’m not interested in debating anyone’s humanity, or anyone’s right to equal treatment under the law. Good faith discussions about the best way to do the right thing, however, are always welcome. Moments where real change is possible are rare. Let’s not waste this one.
We postponed the DEF CON China 2 event, hoping we'd be able to pick another date in 2020. Sadly, even now in mid-June we have too many unresolved concerns to go forward. We're cancelling DEF CON China 2, but we're hopeful we can return to Beijing in 2021. You can read DT's blog post about it in the DEF CON forums.
Swag alert! The DEF CON store has a ton of new #DEFCONisCanceled goodies for your delectation. The much requested mask is here, along with hats, pins and stickers. Thanks to everyone for your support while we construct #defconsafemode - stay tuned for even more new swag items in the coming days! Stay safe, and stay in touch.
DEF CON Safe Mode is growing fast - check out these links to some of the Villages that are signing up to take part! New CFPs are opening up by the day. But don't stop there - jump into the forums and join the discussion. Your feedback is a crucial part of creating a great Con, so join us as we build this thing out. Exciting, ain't it?
From Crypto and Privacy Village (@CryptoVillage): We're back! Our Call for Participation is officially open! For details on the Crypto & Privacy Village: Glitched CFP - check out our site! https://twitter.com/CryptoVillage/status/1263184313861865473
From the Voting Village: Reminder: @defcon Voting Machine Hacking Village @VotingVillageDC speaker track CFP is OPEN!
Call for Papers deadline June 12, 2020, at 5:00 PM PT
More information : https://forum.defcon.org/node/232527#post232527
The DEF CON eBay store is back online! Thanks for bearing with us while we got everything sorted out. DEF CON Safe Mode merchandise (and all other DC merch, for that matter) will be available only on the DEF CON eBay store.
Stay tuned for new #defconiscanceled items, stay safe, and stay in touch with us on the DEF CON FORUMS!
Over on the #defconforums we're building a whole new section for #defcongroups with mini forums for each #DCG! Share pictures, meeting info, project ideas, collaborate with other groups - make it yours.
Congratulations to A*O*E, the winners of the DEF CON Safe Mode CTF Qualifiers, and our heartfelt thanks to the amazing team at Order of the Overflow for hosting a great event.
This year's @defcon Quals are over, but you don't have to stop yet! The scoreboard has been made static and the challenges are still available! Everyone can see challenge info, interact with the challenges (they'll stay up for a few days) and check the flags they can retrieve!/
The moment has arrived - the DEF CON CTF Quals are happening TODAY! Winner gets a seat at the DEF CON Safe Mode CTF event and a shot at everlasting glory. We wish the best of luck to all the contestants. Stay up to date with all the CTF updates by following our brilliant hosts, Order of the Overflow.
We’re gratified by the response from the hacker community and we’re working to create more options for commemorating #defconsafemode. Keep checking our site for updates. Thanks for your patience.
The ‘DEF CON is canceled’ meme has crossed over into real life, courtesy of COVID-19. In early March we had hopes that things would be stable by August. That is no longer realistic. Currently there’s no way to gather everyone together and keep them safe, so The Dark Tangent has decided to cancel the in-person event.
We wish there was better news, but we hackers are a resilient bunch. Stay healthy, stay safe, and stay in touch so we can all be together virtually this August 6-9 and again for DEF CON 29 in person.
