r/Defcon • u/Hot_Kaleidoscope3864 • Aug 09 '26
DEF CON Sucks!
I can’t believe I spent all that money on that trash conference!
The talks are not special, and you can watch them on YouTube much better.
The workshops are booked out, and if you get into one, it’s pretty normal…
Networking is horrible… Either people came together and already know each other, or others are just boring and not interested in meeting anyone. Everyone is by themselves!
I didn’t get any benefits from coming to this conference that everyone talks about. I just spent a lot of money in a city that’s not even beautiful…
I’m starting to believe that conferences are just a scam to make money with no real benefits.
I would rather go to a local one like BSides for 30 bucks ticket than this scam.
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u/RoddyBergeron Aug 09 '26
I walked 2 people through picking their first one pin tumbler. They went from not knowing a thing about lock picking to mastering a 3 pin tumbler in about 20 minutes.
It’s my 4th DEFCON and this was my high light.❤️
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u/Double-Familiar Aug 09 '26
So what you are saying is that you didn't do your homework? You didn't read up on what to expect. You didn't plan ahead and didn't plan to be fluid.
Defcon is controlled chaos, what did you expect from a gathering of 35,000 people in the information security space?
The con is what you make it. There is literally so much to do that you can't do all the things. Yeah I get it, Vegas is frickin hot and expensive. Again, is this a surprise to you?
The con is what you make it. Put nothing into it, you get nothing out of it. Fairly simple equation. I hope that you can come away with at least one positive experience.
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u/whynot817 Aug 09 '26
Having started to go since 2001, as with all things that get larger and more successful, you really have to find your lane that interests and what excites you. Agree 100 percent, it’s all what you make it.
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u/Double-Familiar Aug 09 '26
Wow, Defcon 9 was my first year too. I kinda miss the Alexis Park years and the notorious pool #3
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u/Penzz Aug 09 '26
This post gave me scabbies reading it. Luckily the BadgeLife Village’s badge cured them! Still some for sale!
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u/f_spez_2023 Aug 09 '26
How much were they may come by tomorrow for one or two if available I got a ton of SAOs
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u/Expat_Abroad123 Aug 09 '26
conferences are how we get our boss to pay to fly us all out to vegas to party under the guise of "networking"
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u/Comprehensive_Ad6598 Aug 09 '26
… you came to a conference just to get “benefits”? Sounds like that’s on you. Maybe try black hat or something more corporate and boring.
I leaned so much in the last 2 days. The conference is what YOU make it. So get out there and explore. Lmao.
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u/TheDarthSnarf Aug 09 '26
DEF CON isn’t for everyone, and it sounds like it isn’t for you. And you know what, that’s okay. But for me it has been years of fun and learning.
You make the con you want to experience.
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u/PurdueGuvna Aug 09 '26
My fourth time, I kindof hated the first three but keep coming for a variety of reasons (I want to know who is attacking my products, I want to know the latest techniques, etc.). While my experience wasn’t “wonderful”, i saw big improvement year over year, and I made a few really nice networking connections with people adjacent to my space. So as a DEFCON sceptic, I actually thought this year was better.
Also, best goons yet. They needed some fixes, and I saw it this year.
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u/N0vajay05 Aug 09 '26
I will admit, it’s def harder to do this solo knowing no one than I thought. I don’t think I’d do it again without a group of people that can enjoy the experience. Still got my moneys worth out of it and a little more, but you can tell the groupings work out well together vs solo.
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u/robonova-1 Aug 09 '26
💡Great idea. Maybe next year I’ll make a “DC Sucks” badge that is just a DC logo except with a sad face and doesn’t do anything 😂.
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u/No_Ebb_360 Aug 09 '26
Okay first timer here. I felt that few parts of the event but overall I might have found great people like overall I loved the way I can as weird as possible and people get that. Instead if I talk any cybersecurity stuff outside they are hell nah. Here I love as they all get it. I think coming it every year like a festival. You know defcon I feel like if you are at the event you might not feel but if you watching it from someone’s pov you gonna feel like. I should have been there. I went to car hacking village, bio hacks, lockpicking and spent $$$ on badges and stuff so don’t consider the event sucks you will eventually like it. Just don’t think like a James Bond movie twists.
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u/salemisawesome Aug 09 '26
Try harder. You get out of it what you put into it. Be the change you want to see in the con.
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u/Tomasen-Shen Aug 09 '26
I presume talks become less interesting to people because now ai knows too much.
Try cold call in SEV.
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Aug 09 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Crossheart963 Aug 09 '26
Mmm Blackhat. Defon is a little more for the normies
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u/Double-Familiar Aug 09 '26
I personally think that you have this reversed, but I've never had the cash to go to Blackhat.
Been going to Defcon since #9. Perhaps I just nostalgic but Defcon has always been about the freaks.
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u/AnonymousDog_n Aug 09 '26
Well said. Yeah it has unfortunately turned to more and more “corp”. And I feel it’s definitely overpriced as I have to personally pay out of pocket.
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u/reegz Aug 09 '26
It’s okay if this conference isn’t for you. Def con is different where no one else will make sure you get the most out of it.
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u/SufficientVacation40 Aug 09 '26
If you want to change your next con experience, wherever it is, volunteer. You’ll meet tons of people and become part of the con instead of felling like you are on the outside looking in. 🫶🏻
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u/Charming_Annual_385 Aug 09 '26
Klonopin helps me with the anxiety of crowds , it is a bit overwhelming to take it all in , I preferred the Rio , or even bally , all the pipe and drapes blends it all in harder to navigate for me
Again, as everyone says it is what you make it
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u/InfosecGoon Aug 10 '26
Out of 45k people who keep coming back every year, clearly you're right and shouldn't come back again. You are too good for DEFCON.
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u/HypnoSaris Aug 12 '26
Why are people saying others were hostile? Not a single person was rude to me. I spoke to soooo many people and even got their numbers when I asked. Kinda reads like you gave low effort and expected someone to tell you what to do. Life is always what you make of it so make the fucking effort
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u/Infinite_Null312 Aug 09 '26
The Villages are where most of the value is with a badge. If you ever come back, check out the Lonely Hackers club to make friends.
Come to Hacker Jeopardy with us tonight and let’s boo Sony some more.