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+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+            
                                   
                                     DIGITAL HACK DOT ORG 
 
                                           PRESENTS
                                           
                        *THE HACKER CULTURE SERIES: HACKER CONVENTIONS*

                                         BY deEp c0ma
         
                                     EDITED BY SID vicious

                            "knowledge is power, in ze right hands!"

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+                                          DISCLAIMER
                                         ----------
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE-IN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS TEXT IS TO PROMOTE NET SECURITY AWARENESS.  THE AUTHORS OF THIS TEXT CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS ARISING FROM THE MISUSE OF THE MENTIONED TEXT.  IF SHOULD YOU DISAGREE, COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE JUST READ LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND STOP READING THIS NOW.


     CONTENTS
     ~~~~~~~~ 
1. --The hacker culture series: hacker conventions--
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Explanation
1.3 Conventions 
1.4 Web links
1.5 Books
1.6 Conclusion
1.7 About the group...


   1.1 Introduction
   ****************

Hacker conventions have always been an essential part of the average newbie's and hacker's and cracker's life.  But most important of all, hacker conventions have attracted FBI agents, government agents and particularly private software companies during the last eight years of the last century like a swarm of hornets in search of honey.  

   1.2 Explanation
   ***************

By definition, a convention is an assembly or conference for a common purpose (OXFORD CONCISE DICTIONARY).  Therefore, we can say that a hacker convention is a conference where hackers meet in order to discuss hacker-related topics of interest such as new means of net security, etc...
But in fact, it is much more than that.  Hacker conventions are places where you learn new tricks and make new friends.  At some hacker conventions there are often contests, and prizes at offered to the one who can perform a succesful hack.  Nowadays, small hacker conventions have sprung out of nowhere and each time they attract more and more computer enthusiasts.  Computer-related companies have realised the importance that these conferences can have on their products and hence you can see big softwares companies, like Borland, each year attending the hacker conventions. 

There are many reasons for organizing a hacker convention.  These reasons are:

 // having a place where hackers can meet to exchange new tricks and views (technical aspect)

 // having a place where hackers can meet and make new friends (social aspect)

 // having a place where hackers and computer-security persons meet to exchange views (technical      aspect)

 // having a physical landmark for the hacker underground (social and psychological aspect)

 // but most important of all, to find out what is happening in the hacker world (the hacker         world includes all fields related to computer)

Normally, hacker conventions mean only one important thing for hackers: booze!  Especially beer.
 

   1.3 Conventions
   ***************

The following existing conventions are listed below (note that only conventions that occur on a regular basis have been listed).


Name                  : DEF con
Created by            : The Dark Tangent
Description           : DEF con is the largest underground internet security gathering on the                            planet.  This year it will celebrate its tenth aniversary.
Date of next edition  : 2nd, 3rd and 4th of August 2002 
Country               : USA [Las Vegas]
Formation year        : 1992


Name                  : Rubi-con
Created by            : unknown
Description           : Rubi-con is a yearly technology conference with focus on data and network                         security.  Unfortunately this conference is not free, the fee is US$100!
Date of next edition  : 5th, 6th and 7th of April 2002
Country               : USA [Detroit]
Formation year        : 1999


Name                  : PhreakNIC
Created by            : SE2600
Description           : Annual and free hacker festival held at Nashville.  This conference also                         covers topics like radio (ham, pirate & low-power/community), SETI work,                         robotics, high-power rocketry, satellites, phones and phreaking,                                 cryptography, etc. 
Date of next edition  : unknown
Country               : USA [Nashville]
Formation year        : 1997


Name                  : Rootfest
Created by            : unknown
Description           : Another computer security convention held anually in Minnesota, more                             precisely in Minneapolis.  This convention generally runs on three days                          and is not free, the fee is about US$50.
Date of next edition  : unknown
Country               : USA [Minnesota]
Formation year        : 

   
Name                  : SummerCon
Created by            : unknown
Description           : Another hacker convention.  Costs money, about US$25.
Date of next edition  : unknown
Country               : USA or Holland [Amsterdam]
Formation year        : 1995

And not forgetting the other conventions that are just starting out...

Name                  : HAL [Hackers At Large]
Created by            : ?
Description           : It is an international conference with presentations, workshops,                                 tutorials, and many social events on subjects such as privacy, security,                         biometrics, net art, and so on.  HAL 2001 took place on the campus of the                         University of Twente in Enschede, the Netherlands from August 10th until                         August 12th.   
Date of next edition  : unknown
Country               : Nethelands
Formation year        : 2001


Name                  : H2K [Hope 2k]
Created by            : ?
Description           : H2K is yet the third conference organised by 2600, the first two being                           HOPE and Beyond HOPE which occurred in 1995 and 1997 respectively.  Note                         that HOPE stands for Hackers Of Planet Earth.
Date of next edition  : unknown
Country               : USA [New York City]
Formation year        : 1995



   1.4 Web links
   *************

Check out the following web links for further information on the conventions listed above, and more.

www.defcon.org          -  learn more on DEF con here, has also great pictures of last DEF cons
www.phreaknic.org       -  know all about Phreaknic
www.rubi-con.org        -  check out this kewl site about the con
www.rootfest.org        -  the Rootfest site
www.summercon.org       -  all about Summercon
www.hal2001.org         -  all about Hackers At Large
www.h2k.net             -  Hackers Of Planet Earth's site

www.gaydeceiver.com     -  check out this cool site, about a computer geek couple 

www.chriko.com/security/squidmaster/index.htm  -  security site for sysadmin and online dev

www.hackerthreads.org   -  great for newbies, but gives links for downloading softwares

www.korea.com           -  the best garbage in this dictator-ruled country


   1.5 Books
   *********

This month no new books have been reviewed by the editing staff and so we were unable to write this section.  Our sincere apologies to those interested.


   1.6 Conclusion
   **************

This rounds up our short text on the current hacker conventions occurring around the underground. Note: during the last five years hacker conventions have sprung out from almost everywhere like wild mushrooms from a dead bark.  Different small conventions, most of them in the USA, can been seen advertising on the net, each bearing a more original name.  But please note further that no other convention is an imitation of the Dark Tangent's DEF con as it is often said.  These small cons try to co-exist with the BIG one, which is DEF con.  Well, let's hope that there will more conventions in the future and not just in USA but around the rest of the world.
Long live DEF con and the other hacker cons around.

[You know a hacker con that has just been created, the email us to let us know and we'll just spread some propaganda around.]


   1.7 About the group...
   **********************

Digital Hack Dot Org is the newly-borned group of computer loving individuals who are trying to earn a modest place in the vast place of the hacker's underground world.  DHD0 compromises of only 5 members namely: sid vici0us (commander in chief), zana tas (secretary), deEp coma (corporal) and digital flu (soldier), plus vector12 (shoe-polisher!).  Actually, we were here a long time ago but we have decided to make our presence felt just recently.  The obvious reason for this was that we were all newbies and that we were learning (we still are).  Keep watching as more tutorials are on their way.
Also, do not forget that real hackers drink milk!!!
  
*************************************************************************************************

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               k n o w l e d g e  i s  p o w e r, i n  z e  r i g h t  h a n d s !
      
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                          the hacker culture series: hacker conventions
                                           13/03/2002

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