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DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

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Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#381

Post by dash488 »

passwordoops wrote: post #259
dash488 wrote: post #125

After the impact of the MGM hack this year Cesars probably revisited their insurance on getting compromised. After the auditors and lawyers looked at all the risks they came across DEF CON and said no because of the wording of how DEF CON is marketed. Their choice was probably to drop them or loose coverage. DEF CON is listed as a "hacker convention held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada." where Blackhat is "Black Hat is…

This explanation makes the most sense. A team of lawyers/risk analysts saw "hacker conference", superficially dug in and noted previous incidents that coincided with the "hacker conference" in previous years (bomb threat, the shooter) and decided it wasn't worth it

The bomb threat last year is a funny story that I cant share here. It was very much a nothing burger but their security doing what they are paid to do.

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#382

Post by dash488 »

technick wrote: post #201
dash488 wrote: post #125

After the impact of the MGM hack this year Cesars probably revisited their insurance on getting compromised. After the auditors and lawyers looked at all the risks they came across DEF CON and said no because of the wording of how DEF CON is marketed. Their choice was probably to drop them or loose coverage. DEF CON is listed as a "hacker convention held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada." where Blackhat is "Black Hat is…

Caesars was hacked by the same attackers that pwned Okta, and used the stolen keys and tokens to get into Caesars. It was nothing carried out by Defcon in any way. Anyone that takes this scene seriously knows Defcon is the place to be. Blackhat is a overpriced vendor circle jerk. The only way to make Blackhat relevant again is to kick out all of the vendors and if you can't do that, forbid them from collecting people…

My comment was around the wording as advertised. It will also be my 11th DEF CON next year, never been to Blackhat. We should grab a beer.

I have personally worried after seeing Cesars transform after the events at the Mandalay Bay with the new addition of their own paramilitary group (the SRTs) and their actions during DEF CON. Just check out their job descriptions: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/security-officer-srt-i-fu...

Before the SRTs, I personally know from knowing the staff who run the conference that they have helped Cesars Entertainment in previous years strengthen and work with them hand-in-hand to secure their networks and train their staff. Even work with the goons to make sure people didn't get trespassed over shenanigans. I honestly think the mid level management is sad we are gone.

The other side is the Okta was just a taste of what could go wrong. Seeing MGM totally shut down and loosing millions was scary for upper management. Auditors weren't comparing Blackhat to DEF CON but that the listing on the spreadsheet was not "boat show" but "hacking con" and they deemed that was too much risk for the level of coverage Cesars Entertainment wanted.

Never the less, we all hated Cesars and I am personally excited to see what this next year will look like.

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#383

Post by johnnyanmac »

boringg wrote: post #273
PrimeMcFly wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Not to be TOO snarky Repeating this verbatim in your reply means you are trying to be pretty snarky, fyi.

I mean they were both being intentionally snarky. The second snarky comment was used in a mocking tone because the first comment didnt seem to have much empirical evidence to support it

I don't, and that's why I preferenced it as such. Sort of like how you'll self-preface yourself with something like "nit:" before making a nitpick that's meant to be treated as a small note but nothing to consider or delve too strongly over.

The idea is to diffuse siutations like this before it comes about, but I guess nothing is perfect.

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#384

Post by Eji1700 »

yreg wrote: post #214
sph wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are only two types of people: those that believe they can outsmart the house, and those that never gamble.

If that was true, the house wouldn't throw people out for suspected card counting.

Which they rarely do now because the number of people able and willing to count a 7 deck shoe with a random cutoff is extremely small and it benefits them to let people try.

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#385

Post by ncallaway »

photonthug wrote: post #378
ncallaway wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Security may just offer to beat your ass if you won't cease and desist To be clear, if they tell you to stop playing, and you don’t, then they absolutely can call the police for trespassing, which is a crime. I don’t think most casinos have private security that will beat you any more, since they can tell you to stop playing and enforce that with police.

I'm kind of perplexed by the blanket assertions here as if private security everywhere will never offer either threatened or actual violence in either official or unofficial capacity. Nevermind casinos, do people think every bouncer at every bar is merely for show? Since "management reserves the right", trespassing, threats and assault are not really a huge due-process kind of thing, and local establishments/insiders…

> by the blanket assertions

I mean, I think you're making up blanket assertions where there are none. I haven't made a blanket assertion. I specified the difference between policy and legality.

I then said "I don’t think most casinos have private security that will beat you any more" That's not a blanket assertion. It specifically says "most casinos".

I have never asserted that it NEVER happens and can NEVER happen.

So, I think your confusion is a product of your own assumptions.

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#386

Post by fieryskiff17 »

basil-rash wrote: post #82
cratermoon wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I heard a joke a tech conference people in Vegas many years ago. It goes something like "people who go to tech conferences in Vegas bring one shirt and a $20 bill and never change either." So yea, programmers generally aren't gamblers because they know enough math to know the house always wins.

Eh, I’m a programmer and I go to vegas with other programmers fairly regularly. We know enough math to know the expected cost per entertainment•hour is comparable to many other pass-times. But even so we’re actually all net-positive on the city, thanks to a couple “lucky” craps runs.

[dead]

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#387

Post by sgift »

MichaelZuo wrote: post #379
tekla wrote: post #366

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And they are perfectly fine with the crowd. I've chatted with many hotel staff and almost all of them are happy with the DC crowd. Generally tips well and are polite even when drunk, some assholes, but thats normal with any crowd. Worst case scenario is usually they tell people to disperse, but otherwise, they always seemed to laugh when they saw shenanigans (except for people fucking with Casino machines, thats a fa…

So how would you explain the original cancellation of DEF CON 32?

Probably, because of what mrandish said at the start of the thread. Management thinks they can earn more money from others. If hotel staff is treated well and/or gets good tips doesn't factor in the decision process which event is hosted. As long as someone spends enough for managers to get their bonuses management is happy.

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#388

Post by photonthug »

ncallaway wrote: post #385
photonthug wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm kind of perplexed by the blanket assertions here as if private security everywhere will never offer either threatened or actual violence in either official or unofficial capacity. Nevermind casinos, do people think every bouncer at every bar is merely for show? Since "management reserves the right", trespassing, threats and assault are not really a huge due-process kind of thing, and local establishments/insiders…

> by the blanket assertions I mean, I think you're making up blanket assertions where there are none. I haven't made a blanket assertion. I specified the difference between policy and legality. I then said "I don’t think most casinos have private security that will beat you any more" That's not a blanket assertion. It specifically says "most casinos". I have never asserted that it NEVER happens and can NEVER happen.…

Fair, you're as careful to use qualified language as I think I have been. Guess I wasn't really replying to you but just frustrated by the thread in general.

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#389

Post by huytersd »

SideburnsOfDoom wrote: post #342
huytersd wrote: post #341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The highs get above 90F in August which is approaching 100F. I can also think of lots of popular beaches in Mexico that do get above 100. It’s very relevant because that’s what qualifies my “considered generally nice” statement.

And 40C is _over_ 100F. Your useless pedantry about beaches is becoming boring now.

How is it pedantry if it directly addresses your concern in a very valid way? I literally pointed out that beaches in Mexico are _above_ 40C

Re: DEF CON 32 Was Canceled. We Un-Canceled it

#390

Post by wglb »

wkat4242 wrote: post #131
dash488 wrote: post #125

After the impact of the MGM hack this year Cesars probably revisited their insurance on getting compromised. After the auditors and lawyers looked at all the risks they came across DEF CON and said no because of the wording of how DEF CON is marketed. Their choice was probably to drop them or loose coverage. DEF CON is listed as a "hacker convention held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada." where Blackhat is "Black Hat is…

Black hat is just one giant bunch of sales pitches. No I haven't been there but I've had to sift through recordings that my boss (who did attend) wanted me to look at because he was too drunk himself to do a proper evaluation. It doesn't provide information, it just provides sales suits a chance to blow their hot air :P If I'd ever go there it would just be an excuse to go to vegas to see DEF CON as well :P I work in…

>Black hat is just one giant bunch of sales pitches.

> No I haven't been there

The first sentence is not true. Many good talks are give, often breaking ground. Yes, you can find sales pitches, but there are good fundamentally technology talks.

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