Defcon

The $200 Biometric Lock Versus a Paperclip

Click to viewAnother year, another DefCon, another litany of epic security fails. Like this here Biolock Model 333, a high-tech and high-priced bit of protection that surely requires expert tools and technique to override. Here’s how it does against a paperclip: The problem, as you can readily see, is that while the biometrics all seem…

Privacy & Security Brian Barrett Aug 2

This $1,500 System Can Intercept Your Cellphone Calls

A security researcher has put together a $1,500 system that pretends to be a cell phone tower and tricks your cellphone into routing everything through it—even encrypted calls. Here’s how it works. A security researcher created a cell phone base station that tricks cell phones into routing their outbound calls through his device, allowing someone…

Privacy & Security Kim Zetter - Wired Aug 1

The DefCon Ninja Party Badge Will Let You Battle Strangers

A hacker group known as the Ninjas has created what may be the best DefCon badge ever. The badge allows wireless ninja battle between badge holders. Unlike the official badge, attendees can’t buy this one: it’s free. DefCon, the world’s largest hacker convention, is more than just a group of hackers getting together to exchange…

Tech News Dave Bullock - Wired Jul 28

Warning: Not All ATMs at DefCon Are What They Appear to Be

The infamous DefCon hackers convention is going on in Las Vegas right now. And, just a word of advice. If you’re going to visit, grab your cash before entering the conference. This completely fake ATM, equipped to skim debit cards, was discovered in the Riviera Hotel Casino right outside the hotel’s security office. Conveniently, it…

Tech News Mark Wilson Aug 5

DefCon Badge Hack Fools Facial Recognition Systems With Pulsing Light

DefCon’s badges encourage hacking. In fact, the best hacks at the conference receive a black über badge signifying free lifetime admission. But why compete for the über badges when you can use steal them with this year’s winning hack? https://gizmodo.com/defcon-badge-hacked-in-10-minutes-285998 You have to hand it to the guy behind this DefCon 17’s winning badge hack.…

Tech News Rosa Golijan Aug 4

Obama Administration Adds Renowned Hacker to Homeland Security Advisory Council

Jeff Moss, who you may know as the founder of the hacking conference DefCon, was sworn in yesterday as one of the new members of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. And we think it’s a shrewd and thoughtful move. Moss, also known as Dark Tangent, founded both the DefCon and Black Hat hacker conferences in…

Tech News Dan Nosowitz Jun 6

A Look Inside Defcon’s Network Ops Room, The Most Secure Conference Wi-Fi You’ll Ever See

Network access at conferences sucks, pretty much without exception. That is, unless it’s built by the badge-wearing network ops volunteers of the Defcon hacker convention, who are affectionately referred to as the “Goons” (read: IT badasses). Wired’s Threat Level got a chance to look behind the scenes and snap some great photos of the network…

Privacy & Security John Mahoney Aug 11

Medeco High Security M3 Locks Hacked With Easy Credit Card Trick

With all the hacks going on this weekend at DefCon, the world’s largest annual hacker convention, perhaps the most embarrassingly easy to crack was Medeco’s high-security locks. According to a group of security researchers, all you need to get into an Medeco M3 lock, used in sensitive facilities such as the White House and the…

Tech News Elaine Chow Aug 9

Wired Previews Hackable Defcon 16 Badge

Wired got a sneak peek at one of the more fun aspects of this coming weekend’s Defcon, the hackable badge. Last year’s badge was hacked in just ten minutes, but it didn’t have an SD card slot at USB support. The new card has fewer features than last year’s but is more powerful. And it…

Tech News Matt Hickey Aug 5

NBC’s DefCon Mole – The Walk of Shame

Reading the story about NBC’s undercover reporter getting ousted from hacker convention DefCon was enjoyable. Watching the video…that’s something really special. Here’s the whole story, from beginning to end. https://gizmodo.com/nbcs-defcon-mole-outed-stalked-by-hackers-and-press-285982 My favorite moment: a heckler says, “You must feel like Lindsey Lohan right now.” My second favorite moment: the geek giggling at the end. [via…

Tech News Mark Wilson Aug 4

DefCon Badge Hacked in 10 Minutes

Now, now, don’t get too excited. Creator Joe Grand designed it to be hacked. Still, 10 minutes is a pretty respectable time for the soldering, reprogramming and reflashing job done by Dave Bullock, Wired’s photographer at the event. The badge features an LED display with scrolling text, and it even has an easter egg (typing…

Tech News Brian Lam Aug 3

NBC’s DefCon Mole Outed, Stalked by Hackers and Press

Michelle Madigan, Dateline NBC’s DefCon mole, armed with hidden camera, was trying to sneak in as a programmer and tape hackers admitting to illegal activity. Instead, DefCon’s NBC mole uncovered the plot. DefCon staff lured her to a large hall telling her that the Spot the Fed contest was in session and that she could…

Tech News Brian Lam Aug 3

The $200 Biometric Lock Versus a Paperclip

This $1,500 System Can Intercept Your Cellphone Calls

The DefCon Ninja Party Badge Will Let You Battle Strangers

Warning: Not All ATMs at DefCon Are What They Appear to Be

DefCon Badge Hack Fools Facial Recognition Systems With Pulsing Light

Obama Administration Adds Renowned Hacker to Homeland Security Advisory Council

A Look Inside Defcon’s Network Ops Room, The Most Secure Conference Wi-Fi You’ll Ever See

Medeco High Security M3 Locks Hacked With Easy Credit Card Trick

Wired Previews Hackable Defcon 16 Badge

NBC’s DefCon Mole – The Walk of Shame

DefCon Badge Hacked in 10 Minutes

NBC’s DefCon Mole Outed, Stalked by Hackers and Press

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