TLP: Drink some water
Survive and thrive across potentially three events, and a bajillion side events, in seven days. BSidesLV, Black Hat, and DEF CON are the major missions, but side quests appear at will. Vegas can be a cruel mistress dressed in many twinkly lights. Adjust accordingly.
It is August in the Mojave Desert. It is also aggressively air conditioned indoors to a temperature that will destroy you. Bring layers you will feel stupid about until you desperately need them. The walk between Point A and Point B is longer than Google Maps thinks.
Do not underestimate Points C through Z, they want you to go via them, and you might find marvellous things there if you choose to listen to their call. You might also find three raccoons in a trenchcoat. Your view on how marvellous they are is yours to decide, but know that alcohol affects even the smartest and bestest of people. Your phone battery will not survive the day without help.
Badge scanners disguised as interesting conversations. The talk that is actually a product roadmap. The pool party with an unannounced cover charge. The sales person who found you on LinkedIn three days ago and has somehow also found you here.
3-2-1 is a minimum not a target: three hours sleep, two meals, one shower. Drink water like it is your job because in Vegas it genuinely is. Quietly leave a talk that isn't what you'd hoped for, the hallway track or a village that you could have sworn wasn't there yesterday have new things for you to discover. The best conversations often happen at the most random of places. Denny's at 4am notwithstanding.
The badge challenge you won't notice until someone points it out on day three. The side event that isn't on any official schedule but is where everyone actually is. The village that wasn't on your list but turns out to be the best thing you did all week.
The conversations worth continuing don't have to end at the DEF CON closing ceremony. Cyberr is here for you and all the new friends you made this week. Except possibly the raccoons. We'll need to see their ID before confirming.
CLASSIFICATION LEVEL: SLEEP IS FOR THE WEEK
A field translation guide for Hacker Summer Camp 2026. What they say. What they mean.
Got one we missed? The Wall of WTA is open. Cyberr account required.
Every square is a rare and genuine sighting. Good luck. You'll need it.
Got one we missed? The Wall of WTA is open. Cyberr account required.
HSC-2026 PODIATRIC DIVISION
Sponsored by Heelr, on-demand security expertise to keep your business moving forward. Feet: out of scope.
Mission status: ongoing. You get it. You know what the week looks like from the inside. You probably have blisters and maybe some receipts that you're not sure are expensable.
So, a little about us. Cyberr is a professional network built specifically for the cybersecurity industry. Real profiles, verified people, genuine opportunities. Find your next role, build your reputation, connect with practitioners who know what you're talking about, and get found by the organisations that need someone exactly like you.
If you offer security expertise and want to make it available on demand, Heelr launches this month and we're building the supplier network now.
We hope it's been a good one.
The raccoons are still pending ID verification.