Going to DEFCON? EFF's got your back


The Electronic Frontier Foundation always has a huge presence at Las Vegas's DEFCON, but this year, we're hosting our first-ever badge-hack contest!

That's in addition to six panels and presentations featuring EFF staffers and lawyers (and me!), the EFF booth, and, of course, EFFers on-site to talk with you about your juicy legal concerns and how we can help.

EFF Talks

Licensed to Pwn: The Weaponization and Regulation of Security Research, Friday at 11:00, Track Two
In light of proposed changes to the international export control regime known as the Wassenaar Arrangement, this panel aims to answer the question of whether there is a solution that prevents technology transfer to hostile nations while still enabling free markets, freedom of expression, and freedom of research. Details on the DEF CON schedule.

Fighting Back in the War on General Purpose Computers, Friday at 11:00, Track Three
EFF's Apollo 1201 project is a 10-year mission to abolish all DRM, everywhere in the world, within a decade. We're working with security researchers to challenge the viability of the dread DMCA, a law that threatens you with jail time and fines when you do your job: discover and disclosing defects in systems that we rely on for life and limb. Details on the DEF CON schedule.

Crypto and Privacy Village Keynote, Friday at 12:00
Come and learn all about the Village and the humans behind the scenes. We will announce some cool crypto puzzles we have planned and talk about our first electronic badge. Come and learn how you can participate and get involved. Details on the CPV schedule.

Let's Talk about Let's Encrypt, Friday at 15:00
At the Crypto and Privacy Village. Let's Encrypt is a new Certificate Authority that will provide free X509 certificates in an automated way, with close to no deployment overhead. Details on the CPV schedule.

Let's Encrypt – Minting Free Certificates to Encrypt the Entire Web, Saturday at 15:00, Track Four
Let's Encrypt is a new certificate authority that is being launched by EFF in collaboration with Mozilla, Cisco, Akamai, IdenTrust, and a team at the University of Michigan. It will issue certificates for free, using a new automated protocol called ACME for verification of domain control and issuance. Learn more on the DEF CON schedule.

Ask the EFF: The Year in Digital Civil Liberties, Saturday at 18:00, Track Two
This session will include updates on current EFF issues such as surveillance online and fighting efforts to use intellectual property claims to shut down free speech and halt innovation, discussion of our technology projects to protect privacy and speech online, updates on cases and legislation affecting security research, and much more. Details on the DEF CON schedule.

Join the Cause

Find EFF in the Bally's Contest area and the Paris Vendor hall. At either location, you can pick up information on recent projects, chat with the staff about the state of online rights, get on our action alert list, or donate to become an EFF member. We're continuing our tradition of unveiling a special edition DEF CON shirt, too! Here is last year's design. Easter eggs abound.

EFF Badge Hack Pageant

We're hosting our first badge hacking competition! Vegas-goers are encouraged to dust off that conference badge collection and show the best mods to our judges, DEF CON badgemasters 1o57 and Joe Grand. How far can you take it? Email us at membership@eff.org to let us know you plan to enter, and sign up at the Contest area booth. Learn more.

Looking for Help?

As in past years, EFF staff attorneys will be present to help support the community. If you have legal concerns regarding an upcoming talk or sensitive information security research that you are conducting at any time, please email info@eff.org. Outline the issues and we will do our best to connect you with the resources you need.

EFF at DEF CON 23