DEF CON 24 – Off The Wall Travel

DEF CON 24 with a quick stop at BlackHat 2016

This year at DEF CON 24 and BlackHat 2016 was sure to be the biggest yet, and by the looks of the crowds it lived up to the hype. My point of view of DEF CON 24 is a little narrow as the wife and I both work security for DEF CON. So while there may not be a huge amount about all that went on at DEF CON 24 this year, there are some pretty cool things we got to do. Like -5F like cool.

Brick and Sharon on the plane and in the parking garage headed to DEF CON 24.

This year we decided to fly as in the past driving has proven to be nothing but an epic traffic jam. This was again true with social media being filled with reports of entire interstates being closed in both directions for one reason or another. We had friends that drove and what should have been a 5 hour drive was 12-15.

Our first stop was by BlackHat to pickup VIP passes for the Rapid7 party, but you needed a badge to get in to BlackHat. You could only pick up your VIP pass at the Rapid7 booth in BlackHat, but you could register for the VIP pass without attending BlackHat. It all sounds suspiciously government(y) doesn’t it?

Brick at the Cisco booth at BlackHat 2016.

After spending about an hour looking around in the vendor area and picking up a whole bag full of swag it was time to head out and get to the host hotel for DEF CON 24. So off to Ballys we went. Over the years DEF CON has grown significantly and this year [as last] it has been held at Ballys and Paris hotels as they are conjoined.

DEF CON 24 provisions. Sleep in a bottle!

After a surprisingly smooth checkin we got up to the room and settled in a little bit. As usual we get little sleep while at DEF CON , and this year at DEF CON 24 was no exception. So we came prepared with the necessities as usual but this year we happened to have Monster M3’s with us that we brought back from our trip to Japan. While I have never seen these in the US I was intrigued when I saw them in Japan. So we brought back all that the store had in stock!

The view from our room at Ballys at DEF CON 24.

Views from our room at Ballys for DEF CON 24.

We had a great view from our room at Ballys while attending DEF CON 24. I just love the desert around Las Vegas and the way the skyline looks when you’re close to the strip and can see all the casinos. Not to mention the giant ferris wheel that was right across the street from us!

Friends we only get to see a few times a year like at DEF CON 24.

Then it was time to head down stairs and see who was mulling around the hotel and do come catching up with old friends that we don’t get to see all that often. Even though some live less than 30 minutes from us. You have to appreciate the anticipation of what is to come. Especially for the first time Goons. While Glasswalk3r looks excited here, he has no idea of the carnage he will face over the next 4 days as the hands of the crown of humans. Especially for him on 3rd shift, ya that’s always an interesting one.

DEF CON 24 SalesForce party at a neighboring hotel.

After catching up with friends for a little bit we headed over to the SalesForce party as apparently it was the place to be with an open bar, hotdog station and most important of all Nerf guns! While there many more friends showed up as well. After the Nerf gun fight finally calmed down we actually had some time to socialize.

SafesForce party at a neighboring hotel for DEF CON 24.

A good time was being had by all, we even hit the HotDog station for a snack and let me tell you the TJ Dog has made it to Las Vegas and they don’t do it half bad out there. The super awesome thing was that about 30 minutes before they shutdown the Hot Dog station they set up a Macaroni and Cheese station. Talk about multiples of awesome! That and the carbs definitely help with the whole open bar vibe that was going on. Then just when you think it can’t get much better, this guy shows up!

Dual Core performing "Hostage Down" at the SalesForce party, at DEF CON 24. — Dual Core performing “Hostage Down” at the SalesForce party, at DEF CON 24. [Video]

Dual Core and his insanely awesome hacker rap showed up and really amped up the party at this point. Dual Core never disappoints when he shows he always delivers a super high energy performance and really gets the crowd going. We never get tired of hearing his hits like Hostage Down and All The Things.

Dual Core performing "Last Writes" at the SalesForce party, DEF CON 24. — Dual Core performing “Last Writes” at the SalesForce party, DEF CON 24.

After a few other DJs spun for a while we finally decided to call it a night and get some sleep so that we could be on shift the following morning.

SafesForce party for DEF CON 24 complete with Dual Core!

After a massive 2 maybe even 3 hours of sleep it was time to hit it for registration day at DEF CON 24. Even we try to obey the 3, 2, 1 rule at DEF CON. 3 Hours of sleep, 2 meals, and 1 shower a day. So for an early morning wake me up there’s the standard issue DEF CON breakfast.

Most of us were working the registration line that first day as it’s really the only thing that’s open that early in the morning. This year it was truly amazing how fast the line moved the wait time for badges was under 2 hours and at times as low at 40 minutes. The goon family is truly unique and amazing as we processed over 20,000 people through registration in record time this year.

After registration was firmly in hand and the line was under 1000 people we slowly started turning our attention to the other rooms that needed tending. My duty station this year was the DC101 room. With 800 seats and often over 2000 people waiting to get in the line was long and the people were often times grumpy. But we handled it like we do every year, with tact and efficiency.

DC101 room at DEF CON 24, 800 seats and all of them full.

After shift it’s still early enough to socialize. We hit the Direct Defensive party and then dinner at Tao with a short walk around the area to check out the lights and casinos on the strip.

DEF CON 24 after shift socializing and dinner.

Day 2 another DC101 shift and the line management that went with it. After shift though we headed out and landed at the Ionic party over at minus 5 ice bar at Mandalay Bay. We had wanted to see the Ice Bar before but never had the opportunity. We were pretty excited to go and see a bar that was built in an industrial freezer with ice walls, seating, and a bar complete with shelves that was actually built out of ice. It’s a real sight to see I will say that.

Ionic party, DEF CON 24 at minus 5 Ice Bar at the Mandalay Bay.

We were glad they gave us coats and gloves to wear as it really was below freezing in there. Even the glasses you drink out or are made out of ice. They caution you to use both hands when drinking as they are really hard to hold onto with one hand.

Ionic party, minus 5 Ice Bar at the Mandalay Bay for DEF CON 24.[video]

We were really fortunate to have been there for a private event as cellphones and cameras of any sort are not normally allowed in the minus 5 Ice Bar. I can see why as it really was a sight to behold. It truly is an amazing show of talent and engineering to build out a freezer like this. Because the blocks used to line the walls are several hundred pounds each.

VIP room at the Ionic party in the minus 5 Ice Bar at DEF CON 24.[video]

After a few minutes in the minus 5 Ice Bar it’s time to warm up, so we headed back out to the dry desert heat in the main bar area that was above freezing. DEF CON 24 this year set a new precedent with the Iconic party for me because they brought in WhiteCastle cheese burgers! I was so happy to see these tiny little delicacies that I couldn’t resist grabbing 2-3 of them as they truly are a rare treat normally only seen on the East coast. But luckily there’s a location in Las Vegas now!

WhiteCastle cheese burgers at DEF CON 24, is there anything else better, I mean really is there?

The next day was much like the first. Back on first shift duty at the DC101 room and helping manage the line of people wanting to get in the talk.

DC101 talk room in between talks at DEF CON 24.

As usual after our shift we headed out to catch up with friends and socialize. We made our way to the Qualcomm suite that was on property. The Qualcomm guys are always the greatest. The coolest people hang out there and they are the most inviting bunch we know of. Their suite is one of the favorites for those that know.

Suite party at DEF CON 24. Refreshments and a quick nap. Your typical bathtub configuration at DEF CON.

After resting up for an hour or 2 and some refreshments we headed out to see what was going on at the vendor and contest areas at DEF CON 24. We ran in to many friends along the way but none more missed that SkyDog. We keep hoping to make it out to SkyDog Con in Tennessee but sadly haven’t made it yet.

Sharon, SkyDog, and Brick at DEF CON 24.

After walking around for a while and seeing lots of cool stuff [I still don’t have my warded pick set] we freshened up and headed back out to see what parties were going on up on the 26th floor in the suites. Making our way in to the DC503 suite we found the typical DEF CON configuration for a suite party.

Fuzzy Nop and the bathtub of chilled beverages as usual at DEF CON 24.

This party was really going well, many friends were there and a good time was being had by all. The only thing that would make it better would have been White Castle cheese burgers. But just as I was thinking that I looked to my left and saw this.

Dual Core at the DC503 party getting ready to do his thing at DEF CON 24.

Once he was able to unplug from his phone we got to hang out with him again before he had to make an appearance at another party to do his thing again.

Dual Core and friends at the DC503 party at DEF CON 24.

Dual Core’s performance was once again off the chain and awesome to watch! Some how we managed to get a group picture in the bathtub of ice at the DC503 party, still not sure how this actually happenend.

Group photos at DEF CON 24 often looked like this for some odd reason.

After 3 days at DEF CON 24 and late night parties, followed by early morning security shifts my morning looked an awful lot like this.

By the end of day 3 most of us were wearing down quite a bit. But that’s no excuse to slow down! That night Berlin and Information Society were supposed to play at DEF CON 24 in the room that DARPA has their systems set up in. So we headed down to see what all was going on.

Sharon in Track #2 at DEF CON 24 waiting for Berlin to come on stage.

Unfortunately the bands were running really late and we never actually saw them perform, but the DJ’s they had weren’t too bad and played some good stuff. The crowd really seemed to like it especially when the lighted foam sticks came out.

Brick & Sharon at DEF CON 24 hoping to see Berlin.

After a while we decided to head on to other things. Making our was to the pool for the freak Show party we picked up several more people and drug them along with us. After finally arranging VIP bracelets for people we got in to see what all the excitement was about.

Brick & Sharon at the Freak Show pool party, DEF CON 24.

Sadly the Freak Show pool party was really underwhelming and people were just coveying in small groups and not really socializing too much. This DEF CON 24 party just wasn’t worth the wait in line. We made 1 round around the pool and left after about 5 minutes.

This was our last official night as DEF CON 24 was closing down early the next day with closing ceremonies. Many retiring goons were honored at the closing ceremonies this year. It was truly sad to see them go and they will be missed as they now are officially part of the problem.

In the sanctity of the Goon SOC we had our own closing ceremony as well for the security goons. Many cheers and tears followed during our own closing ceremony as well but there will always be next DEF CON.

SOC for security goons, panoramic of the room.

The aftermath of DEF CON 24 wasn’t as bad as we expected. We did have some great Mexican food before we left Las Vegas and my case of Con Arm was not as bad as it had been in past years as you can see. But the most memorable thing for us is the party favors from the Goon party. You know it’s a great party when you get handed a taser at the door to a party with an open bar.

Cheap Mexian food, Con arm and a video of the taser we got at the door to the Goon party.

Sharon and I are incredibly honored and appreciative that we are a part of such a great group of people as the SOC Goons. We wholeheartedly call the family and would gladly assist anyone of them in need. We truly love you all and hole to see you well before next DEF CON!