DnA 9-3: DEFCON II- Review
written by Arclight
07/29/94
In case you did not hear, or have been hiding under a rock, the DEFCON II Hacker Convention was held in Las Vegas on July 22, 23, and 24. A total of 350 registered people showed up, plus the usual number of sneak-ins. Representing the DNA staff were Vandal, Zephyr, and myself. The following is the official and unedited account of the DNA staff's activities at DEFCON.
<Begin fragmented sentence mode>
Day 1.5
The Vandal/Arclight crew rolls into Vegas at approximately 3:00am. We're just in time to do well... Nothing. It's already 80 degrees, and there are no hackers to be found.
3:30am We wander around the Sahara Hotel, eventually finding some fellow hacker scum. They look conspicuous, with Black 2600 T-Shirts and computer equipment. We talk.
4:00am DNA Crew go to sleep on hood of car in parking lot outside of Sahara. It's fucking hot!
6:00am Roused by Rent-a-Cop in golf cart. He asks us if we're part of that "Hacker Thing" and proceeds to tell us about two arrests made the night before for disorderly conduct. Uh-Huh.
8:00am We Find the DEFCON site and survey trashed room, note old bottles and piles of MCI-Buried Cable tape. Get the Evil eye from all hotel employees. Also note that the phone blocks in the lobby are now missing covers.
9:00am Check in, etc. Speeches begin.
12:00-??? After check in, there are scheduled speeches by likes of Gail Thackery (Barney without the suit?) and security experts. We get to learn all about Tempest hacking, and electronic surveillance. The Gail thackery we-must-control-this technology speech is touching; We shout her down and follow her out, and get cool 15 debate with the hacker-tracker-bitch-from- hell. Get interviewed by cute reporter from L.A. Times. <Gail Thackery is the notorious hacker-prosecutor from Arizona, her reputation proceeds her>
The Philip Zimmerman (Author of PGP encryption software) speech is very enlightening. His personal assurance is that the security of PGP 2.8 has not been compromised in any way. It's support of PGP 2.3 format does expire, but this was done to make PGP legal once and for all. (The previous versions violated the MIT-sold copyrights to RSA) I note that he keeps alluding to PGP as "Pretty Good Privacy... For the U.S.A. " PGP still cannot be exported, as it is considered a regulated military commodity by the State Department. He seems puzzled by how this software somehow got out of the US. With all of the legal, government, and personal pressure placed on Zimmerman after the release of PGP, I have to say that this man has balls.
11:00pm <Hotel Lobby> I round up evil, malicious hacker friends via Courtesy phone. We load up car with five of the evil malicious hackers and go trashing. Too many hackers spoil the ride.
1:30am <Zephyr's hotel room> Sort through trash, tie up remains into door-prize bundle with extra phone cord.
2:00-3:30am Wander aimlessly down strip with intoxicated friends. Fall down unconscious in hotel room.
Day 2
10:00-9pm Surviving members get up, eat, and wander down to DEFCON area. Speech topics include the efforts of Hack-Tic in creating the Hack-Tic network in Netherlands (xs4all.hacktic.nl) and Internet/UNIX security. A representative of the Chaos Computer Club of Germany speaks about their on-going projects, such as the interactive video-phone software for IBM PC. So far it's only up to 2-5 frames per second, but the video of it looks impressive.
A representative from the SPA (Software Publishers Association, we all know who they are) delivers a speech about his organization's efforts to stop the illegal copying of software. He answers questions, and is heckled mercilessly by the crowd. According to the SPA rep, there are approximately 1600 Computer Bulletin Boards being tracked at one time, with no notice ever being given before legal action is taken. The most memorable question from the audience is "What do you upload to get download credits on those 'Warez boards you bust?" They actually have a "Warez" licence with the software companies...Oh GH0D! This man is very Un-Zero Day.
Other speeches cover computer virii, radio privacy, and the like. L.A. area television channel 13 is there filming. They don't use our interview.
10:00pm After vacating the hotel room and collecting all of our literature and contacts, we roll out of Vegas bound for L.A. It is a good con, and toward is the end is worth the $30.00 .
Most memorable quote
<Group of hackers huddled around COCOT>
"Are you SURE these are the right tones?!?!?"
DEFCON II was a unique experience, and I would encourage anyone that is interested in the 'scene to get down to DEFCON III. Food and hotel rooms are dirt cheap in Las Vegas, though you may not like the heat or having to deal with a slot machine in the bathroom. We were there on Day 1, so we cannot comment on the party or the Japanimation/Porno cartoons shown. All in all, it was a well spent weekend. Now for some sleep...
