[ISN] LayerOne Hacking Exposed

[InfoSec News]

http://www.tomshardware.com/business/20040622/index.html

By Humphrey Cheung 
June 22, 2004 

THG regularly covers LAN Parties, during which gamers drink, socialize 
and, of course, play games. However, hackers and other technology 
professionals have also been doing this for several years at 
conventions such as Defcon, Toorcon and more recently at (LayerOne) 
the first annual LayerOne conference June 12-13 at the Westin Hotel 
near the Los Angeles International Airport. 

The main attraction of these hacker conventions is the informative 
talks given by technology experts. They range from legal advice to 
technical wizardry. Social events such as free alcohol and evening 
parties also help bring security professionals, law enforcement and 
hackers together for fun and mayhem. 

Are these conventions for you? How does the LayerOne conference 
compare with the massive Defcon Hacker convention in Las Vegas? Read 
on and find out. 

Who Goes To These Conventions? The Crowd. 

The primary purpose of "hacker" conventions is to learn. Informative 
and sometimes downright scary talks are given on the latest computer 
vulnerabilities, legal situations and hacker lifestyles. The quality 
of the talks attracts full-time computer security professionals, law 
enforcement agents and the traditional hacker. Although the mix sounds 
like a recipe for disaster, everyone seems to get along well. 

While it is hard to state the percentages of hardcore hackers to 
computer professionals, LayerOne seemed to attract a more sedate and 
higher-end crowd. Defcon, which attracts about 6,000 people each 
summer, seems to attract an even mix of young hackers to computer 
pros. 

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