Conference crowd at a hacking event

DEFCON Debrief 2024

Highlights and Takeaways from DEFCON 32

DEFCON 32 badge - a great number to start on

32 is a great number to start on

Introduction

DEFCON 32 was an incredible experience. As a first-time attendee, I learned a lot about how to make the most of the world's largest hacking conference. Here are my tips and takeaways for anyone planning to attend in the future.

Preparation Tips

  1. Bring a laptop to the convention - Lots of the activities are CTFs, demos, and workshops that require a laptop.
  2. Bring a lightweight laptop - You will be doing a lot of walking, which means a lot of carrying your laptop around.
  3. You cannot drink enough water - Vegas is really hot and you will be walking a lot, often with a heavy backpack. I made sure to drink an entire bottle of Gatorade and water from the hotel vending machine before bed every night, and it was not nearly enough.
  4. Attend the DEFCON parties - The nighttime parties were a ton of fun. I look forward to attending them again next year.
  5. Drop off your bag before the parties - There will not be a place to leave your bag at the convention unless you have a big group with a table. Do not be like me and try to dance with a big backpack; drop it off at your room before coming.

Convention Tips

  1. Be friendly and open - You never know who you might come across at the convention, from people on Twitter to old friends. Be approachable and make the most of the social opportunity.
  2. Get involved in the CTFs and contests - While some challenges require a large amount of technical skill, many function more as "escape room puzzles" and can be engaged with even if you are not an expert at the technology.
  3. Schedule talks in advance - I did not attend very many talks, choosing instead to focus on exploring the convention. I feel like I missed a lot of good content due to losing track of time. I recommend picking one or two talks a day and putting them on your calendar. Time flies by when doing contests or talking to friends.
  4. Get your merch ASAP - I was not able to get any DEFCON merch for my first time attending, and I rather regret that. Things sell out very quickly; make it a point to obtain the merch you want right away. It can always be dropped off at your room afterward.
  5. Get and use the DEFCON app - The official app, Hacker Tracker, is amazing and should certainly be used. It has a map of the convention, integration to order merch, and most importantly, a list of all the events, CTFs, and talks. A must-have for planning ahead of time.
  6. Utilize public transit - While I Ubered around Vegas the first couple days, I quickly discovered that between the Loop and the metro, you can get around the strip just fine with walking. It is hot though, so be prepared and try to walk around and explore at night if possible.

Vendor Tips

  1. Buy limited items immediately - If you really want something, get it right away as vendors carry limited stock.
  2. Wait for end-of-con discounts - If you can afford to wait, many vendors give discounts near the end of the convention as they try to liquidate remaining inventory. You can find some pretty good deals.
  3. Collect stickers - So many stickers! Everyone is giving out stickers; stickers are everywhere. If you want stickers for any reason, you can certainly stock up on high-quality stickers at DEFCON.

Self-Care Tips

  1. Remember to eat - While it may seem silly, with so much going on it can be hard to remember to eat lunch. I found myself many days ending up with only one meal. The convention center had plenty of food, so do not forget to make 30 minutes a day for lunch, or you will be hobbling back to your room at 2am with a pizza like I did.
  2. Pace yourself - The convention is a very stimulating environment, to say nothing of the Vegas strip itself. There is a near infinite amount of things to do and you will want to do it all ASAP. The convention is 4 days; take full advantage and do not burn yourself out right away. Also make sure to pace yourself with booze (it is Vegas after all), sleep, and food.
  3. Prioritize sleep - Sleep is hard because, if you are anything like me, you will be getting back to your room after 2am every night. It is okay to sleep in; do not sacrifice sleep, as it will make the whole day worse.

Networking

  1. Approach people - Everyone I came across was extremely friendly and excited to share details about their project or competition. It is a great opportunity to not just learn but also to do soft networking. You never know when you might come across someone you met briefly and remember their face, or more importantly, vice versa.
  2. Explore Vegas - You are in Las Vegas; take advantage of the opportunity and check out the hotels and tourist attractions you might want to see. DEFCON itself can keep you very busy, but be sure to get outside of the convention and get some fresh air as well. It is a global tourist hotspot for a reason.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading. Hopefully you found some of these tips helpful. I will certainly be going back over them myself before departing for DEFCON next year!

Looking forward to DEFCON next year

Cannot wait for next year!