Jonathan Lalou's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘CTF’

Yan Shoshitaishvili and Perri Adams, alongside collaborators like Connor Nelson, introduced DEF CON Academy, an ambitious initiative to elevate novice hackers to elite status, at DEF CON 32. Yan, a professor at Arizona State University, and Perri, a key figure in the DEF CON community, shared their vision for providing accessible, inclusive resources to nurture hacker talent. Their presentation highlighted the Academy’s role in fostering skill development through year-round programs and hands-on challenges, inspiring attendees to transcend the hallways and “hack the planet.”

The Vision of DEF CON Academy

Yan opened by describing DEF CON’s magnetic pull, drawing thousands to Las Vegas to witness legendary exploits and aspire to greatness. He noted that while talent and perseverance are vital, many newcomers lack the support needed to excel. DEF CON Academy, supported by Arizona State University and Jeff Moss (The Dark Tangent), aims to bridge this gap with open, practical resources. Yan showcased the Academy’s CTF platform, where participants like Chi Chessum and NN Goose earned challenge coins, demonstrating the program’s immediate impact.

Building Inclusive Learning Pathways

Perri emphasized the Academy’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring resources are approachable for diverse learners. She highlighted interactive challenges and year-round events that complement DEF CON’s annual gathering. By providing clear, structured pathways, the Academy empowers novices to develop skills in areas like binary exploitation and network security. Perri’s vision, backed by collaborators like Connor, fosters a supportive environment where aspiring hackers can connect with mentors and peers, breaking down barriers to entry.

Hands-On Learning Through CTF

Yan demonstrated the Academy’s CTF platform, despite Wi-Fi challenges, showcasing real-time engagement with 24 solvers and 603 total solves. The live demo, though briefly hampered by technical issues, illustrated the platform’s potential to engage learners actively. Yan’s enthusiasm for community-driven education highlighted how the Academy leverages DEF CON’s competitive spirit to cultivate practical skills, encouraging participants to tackle challenges and earn recognition through tangible achievements like challenge coins.

Empowering the Next Generation

Concluding, Perri and Yan called on the DEF CON community to contribute to the Academy’s growth, thanking supporters like Jeff Moss for enabling this initiative. They envision a future where every hacker, regardless of background, can access the tools and mentorship needed to excel. By fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, DEF CON Academy aims to elevate the community’s skill level, ensuring the next generation of hackers is equipped to tackle cyberspace’s toughest challenges.

Links:

• Arizona State University website

As the echoes of innovation and collaboration fade from the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the closing ceremonies of DEF CON 32 encapsulate the spirit of a community that thrives on engagement, resilience, and shared purpose. Hosted by Jeff Moss, known as Dark Tangent, alongside contributors like Mar Williams and representatives from various teams, the event reflects on achievements, honors trailblazers, and charts a course forward. Amid reflections on past giants and celebrations of current triumphs, the gathering underscores the hacker ethos: pushing boundaries while fostering inclusivity and growth.

Jeff opens with a tone of relief and gratitude, acknowledging the unforeseen venue shift that tested the community’s adaptability. What began as a potential setback transformed into a revitalized experience, with attendees praising the spacious layout that evoked the intimacy of earlier conventions. This backdrop sets the stage for a moment of solemnity, where participants pause to honor those who paved the way—mentors, innovators, and unsung heroes whose legacies endure in the collective memory.

The theme of “engage” permeates the proceedings, inspiring initiatives that extend the conference’s impact beyond its annual confines. Jeff highlights two new ventures aimed at channeling the community’s expertise toward societal good and personal advancement. These efforts embody a commitment to proactive involvement, bridging the gap between hacker ingenuity and real-world challenges.

Honoring the Past: A Moment of Reflection

In a poignant start, Jeff calls for silence to remember predecessors whose contributions form the foundation of today’s cybersecurity landscape. This ritual serves as a reminder that progress stems from accumulated wisdom, urging attendees to carry forward the ethos of giving back. The gesture resonates deeply, connecting generations and reinforcing the communal bonds that define DEF CON.

Transitioning to celebration, the ceremonies spotlight individuals and organizations embodying selfless dedication. Jeff presents the Uber Contributor Award to The Prophet, a figure whose decades-long involvement spans writing for 2600 magazine, educating newcomers, and organizing events like Telephreak Challenge and QueerCon. His journey from phreaker to multifaceted influencer exemplifies the transformative power of sustained engagement. The Prophet’s acceptance speech captures the magic of the community, where dreams materialize through collective effort.

Similarly, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) receives recognition for over two decades of advocacy, raising $130,000 this year alone to support speakers and defend digital rights. Their representative emphasizes EFF’s role in amplifying security research for global benefit, aligning with DEF CON’s mission to empower ethical hacking.

Embracing the Theme: Engagement in Action

The “engage” motif drives discussions on evolving the community’s role in an increasingly complex digital world. Jeff articulates how this concept prompted bold experiments, acknowledging the uncertainties but embracing potential failures as learning opportunities. This mindset reflects the hacker’s adaptability, turning challenges into catalysts for innovation.

Attendees share feedback on the new venue, noting reduced overcrowding and a more relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of DEF CON’s earlier editions. Such observations validate the rapid pivot from the previous location, a decision thrust upon organizers by an unexpected contract termination. Jeff recounts the whirlwind process with humor, crediting quick alliances and the community’s resilience for the seamless transition.

Spotlight on Creativity: The Badge Unveiled

Mar Williams takes the stage to demystify the DEF CON 32 badge, a testament to accessible design and collaborative artistry. Drawing from a concept rooted in inclusivity, Mar aimed to create something approachable for novices while offering depth for experts. Partnering with Raspberry Pi, the badge incorporates layers of interactivity—from loading custom ROMs to developing games via GB Studio.

Acknowledgments flow to the team: Bonnie Finley for 3D modeling and game art, Chris Maltby for plugins and development, Nutmeg for additional game work, Will Tuttle for narrative input, Ada Rose Cannon for character creation, Legion 303 for audio, and others like ICSN for manufacturing. Mar’s vision emphasizes community participation, with the badge’s game dedicating itself to players who engage and make an impact. Challenges like SOS signals and proximity interactions foster connections, while post-conference resources encourage ongoing tinkering.

Triumphs in Competition: Village and Challenge Winners

The ceremonies burst with energy as winners from myriad contests are announced, showcasing the breadth of skills within the community. From the AI Village Capture the Flag, where teams like AI Cyber Challenge victors demonstrate prowess in emerging tech, to the Aviation Village’s high-flying achievements, each victory highlights specialized expertise.

Notable accolades include the AppSec Village’s top performers in secure coding, the Biohacking Village’s innovative health hacks, and the Car Hacking Village’s vehicular exploits. The Cloud Village CTF crowns champions in scalable defenses, while the Crypto & Privacy Village recognizes cryptographic ingenuity. Diversity shines through in the ICS Village’s industrial control triumphs and the IoT Village’s device dissections.

Special mentions go to the Lockpick Village’s dexterity masters, the Misinformation Village’s truth-seekers, and the Packet Hacking Village’s network ninjas. The Password Cracking Contest and Physical Pentest Challenge celebrate brute force and subtle infiltration, respectively. The Policy Village engages in advocacy wins, and the Recon Village excels in intelligence gathering.

Celebrating Hands-On Innovation: More Contest Highlights

The Red Team Village’s strategic simulations yield victors in offensive operations, complemented by the RFID Village’s access control breakthroughs. Rogue Access Point contests reward wireless wizardry, while the Soldering Skills Village honors precise craftsmanship.

The Space Security Village pushes boundaries in orbital defenses, and the Tamper Evident Village masters detection of intrusions. Telecom and Telephreak challenges revive analog artistry, with the Vishing Competition testing social engineering finesse. The Voting Village exposes electoral vulnerabilities, and the WiFi Village dominates spectrum battles.

Wireless CTF and Wordle Hacking rounds out the roster, each contributing to a tapestry of technical mastery and creative problem-solving.

Organizational Gratitude: Behind-the-Scenes Heroes

Jeff extends heartfelt thanks to departments, goons, and volunteers who orchestrated the event amid upheaval. Retiring goons like GMark, Noise, Ira, Estang, Gataca, Duna, The Samorphix, Brick, Wham, Casper receive nods for their service, earning lifetime attendance. New “noons” are welcomed, injecting fresh energy.

Gold badge holders, signifying a decade of dedication, are celebrated for their enduring commitment. This segment underscores the human element sustaining DEF CON’s scale and vibrancy.

Looking Ahead: Community and Continuity

Social channels keep the conversation alive year-round, from Discord movie nights to YouTube archives and Instagram updates. The DEF CON Social Mastodon server offers a moderated space adhering to the code of conduct, providing a haven amid social media fragmentation.

A lighthearted anecdote from Jeff about the badge’s “dark chocolate” Easter egg illustrates serendipitous joy, where proximity triggers whimsical interactions. Such moments encapsulate the conference’s blend of seriousness and play.

Finally, anticipation builds for DEF CON 33, slated for August 7-10 at the same venue. Jeff reflects on the positive reception, affirming the space’s role in reducing FOMO and enhancing connections. With content continually uploaded online, the community remains engaged, ready to disengage only until the next convergence.

Links:

• Jeff Moss on LinkedIn
• The Prophet on LinkedIn
• Mar Williams art website
• Electronic Frontier Foundation website

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