Defcon Evolution: From Exuberant Party to Corporate Influence

For nine years, Defcon has been known as the world's most exuberant party for hackers and hacker hopefuls who gather in sin city for a rollicking good time. Conference organizers call it the "annual computer underground party for hackers," and Defcon . . . For nine years, Defcon has been known as the world's most exuberant party for hackers and hacker hopefuls who gather in sin city for a rollicking good time. Conference organizers call it the "annual computer underground party for hackers," and Defcon is known as much for its technical content as its beer-tinged hijinks. Pranks such as smoke bombs in hotel pools, portions of telephone trucks mysteriously appearing in the convention hall and concrete dumped in toilets have earned Defcon a reputation as a kind of annual hacker bacchanalia.

Until now. With little fanfare, Defcon has gradually gone corporate.

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