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Puzzle #6 - The Architect's Backdoor
▲ 21 r/Defcon

Puzzle #6 - The Architect's Backdoor

>This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and we show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

The resistance needs your eyes on this. We're trying to jack into a secure mainframe, but the login terminal is completely locked down, spitting back nothing but a strange, serialized text string. Word from the underground is that a rogue program left a backdoor hidden deep inside an old machine firmware image before they were deleted by the Agents. Help us figure out how to wake this system up before it's too late!

Follow the white rabbit: https://puzzledhackers.org/challenges/2026/06

If you want to keep track of your completions and be considered for part of our giveaways at the r/DEFCON subreddit meetup, please head over to https://ctf.puzzledhackers.org/ and select "The Architect's Backdoor".

As always, if you run into any issues or have questions, reach out to me or u/digitard and we'll happily assist.

Don't forget that we're holding the subreddit meetups on Wednesday 8/5 and Thursday 8/6 at 7:00 pm. We hope to see you all there!

The Puzzled Hackers Team, u/Killroy7777, u/digitard, and u/MetaN3rd

Stats:

  • Puzzle #1 solves: 188
  • Puzzle #2 solves: 126
  • Puzzle #3 solves: 78
  • Puzzle #4 solves: 65
  • Puzzle #5 solves: 59
  • Spoons bent: 0
  • DDoS attempts: 1 :(
u/Killroy7777 — 1 day ago
▲ 50 r/Defcon

This might be the most over-engineered badge at DEF CON.

This thing looks like someone combined half the DEF CON badge villages into one board. 😅

Dual RP2350s
ESP32-C5
FPGA
Raspberry Pi CM0
LoRa
Sub-GHz
NFC
CAN FD, IR, GPIO, USB Host, Meshtastic, Python, Linux…
Definitely on my list to check out at Vendor Village.

u/New_Adhesiveness_299 — 1 day ago
▲ 10 r/Defcon

DefCon Las Vegas - Workshops LIVE on HT

A preview of the DefCon LV Workshops are now on the Hacker Tracker app. Last I read, sign-ups are still 7/6 @ 12noon (PST) on Humanitix.

reddit.com
u/Rough_Initial2436 — 22 hours ago
▲ 25 r/Defcon

The Celestial Wayfinder: A Defcon 34 Badge

Presenting the Celestial Wayfinder Badge: A LoRa mesh communicator with GPS designed to let you ping where you are and find your way to what's happening. The Wayfinder has a cyberpunk industrial design with customizable and interchangeable 3D printed parts, gateron green mechanical keyboard switches, haptic feedback, and an OLED screen.

Running on an ESP32, the firmware is open source and extensible, and can be easily updated via the USB-C port. The port recharges the onboard lithium-ion battery and the hardware has been battle-tested through 5+ revisions across conferences, festivals, and burns.

Pre-order today at: https://wyrdwyrks.com/celestial-wayfinder/

Pickup details TBD, but we should have 2 badge drops that will be updated on the web page and intend to be at the reddit meetup.

Complete Edition - Full 3D printed case, fully assembled and ready to go: $150

DIY Edition - Minimal 3D printed case with some assembly required: $125

Hardware Features:

  • ESP32-S3 microcontroller
  • Custom 4-layer PCB
  • 128×128 OLED display
  • SX1276 LoRa
  • Case: carabiner and lanyard attachment points
  • Integrated GPS module
  • Magnetometer + IMU
  • 5× Cherry MX-compatible mechanical switches
  • Tactile rotary encoder
  • 61 WS2812B LEDs
  • Buzzer: new message alert

Firmware Features:

  • Custom LoRa mesh: self-healing, minimal config
  • Custom windowing UI system
  • Flash-persisted saved messages and locations
  • Breakout
  • PWA for configuration
  • Open source

https://preview.redd.it/60cfjpp4e9bh1.png?width=1020&format=png&auto=webp&s=204a2a3b97f06afe6b47de0374001ef0015247e8

Bare PCB

reddit.com
u/WyrdWyrks — 1 day ago
▲ 44 r/Defcon

Zombie Badge Info Dump

[ FIELD REPORT #004 ]

Sti... tracking... signal. Getting closer...Both objects... I've... worki... through the architect... I know who built the...

[ H4irl1n3 M0gg3r5 ]

We'll take it from here.

Two objects. ESP32-S3. IR. NFC. BLE. One transmits. One was built to counter it. What happens when they meet in the field is infectious.

The silkscreen means something. The buzzer tells you when something bad is close. Pay attention to it.

The CTF lives in the firmware. Multi-stage, not solo-completable, real protocols. The backend has pages you can't reach without earning them.

A twist to the game: the H4irl1n3 M0gg3r5 crew roams the floor as live transmission zones. Stay near us too long and your badge flips. Cure Stations are fixed somewhere at the venue. Not on the map. Medkits are hidden as 3D-printed props. Some aren't medkits. The shell is identical but somethings different.

There is also a SAO. A brain in a jar. Tap it. Something happens to every transmission object in range. Wear it at your own risk.

DEF CON 34. August. Las Vegas.

— H4irl1n3 M0gg3r5

There will be one final post before summer camp! Keep an eye out on Reddit and X - Zeroo_patient

u/zer0patient — 2 days ago
▲ 26 r/Defcon

Whose Slide 10 year anniversary badge

DC34 marks 10 years that DEF CON has an enabled us to do our ridiculous PowerPoint circus. What started as a half assed, let’s see what happens idea has turned into a show we’re insanely proud of.

To commemorate a decade of stupid memes and gong blasts, The Whose Slide Is It Anyway 10 Year Anniversary badge is ready for sale! Mentorship by Blenster, art by 1DarkOne. Lots of blinky lights and, yes, a gong button. We have about 30 left and then that’s all she wrote. Shipping available within the US or pick up at con.

wsiiax.myshopify.com

u/rand0h — 4 days ago
▲ 26 r/Defcon

SAOs, Badges, and More...

Hello Friends! We look forward to catching up with everyone at the LINQ meetups once again.

In the meantime... How about $30 off the SAO BadgeMaster Set featuring SEVEN SAOs, THREE BADGES, and more:
https://hackerboxes.com/products/badgemaster-toolkit

https://preview.redd.it/h096f7n9goah1.png?width=1956&format=png&auto=webp&s=78edc3f9528721a78c49aa5213d8bb075cdc85c7

And also 50% off any remaining "Learn to Solder" MiniBadges from last summer:
https://hackerboxes.com/products/dc33-mini-badge

https://preview.redd.it/aj04v4i4ioah1.png?width=1966&format=png&auto=webp&s=f321fb2a8129e93e988af43bcab33eaa27267f79

reddit.com
u/hackerboxes — 4 days ago
▲ 12 r/Defcon

Badges question

Might be a stupid question since it's my first (hopefully not last) Defcon, but I'm seeing all these different badges like the laser tag one and stuff.

Do ya'll stock up on lanyards to wear them or do you not wear them or only wear some or is there like a bandolier system?

Do these badges come with lanyards or do I need to come prepared with a bunch of lanyards?

At this point, I'm gonna have at least 2, the defcon one and laser tag one.

Also, if have a multiple, how do ya'll keep from them banging into each other or damaging them.

reddit.com
u/OMGsteveFTW — 5 days ago
▲ 68 r/Defcon

Second Chance- Cult of Cthulhu Indie DC34 Badge

Wow, I'm blown away by the response to the badge. I never imagined it would sell out so quick!

https://discord.gg/KCF5EEjDv
Join the badge discord server, link above. People keep asking about a restock or second chance. Discord is where I'll post the latest info, updates, locations, etc. leading up to and during the con.

To the best of my ability, I will have about 15 badges for sale at or around the Reddit Meetup, Wednesday night at the Linq circle bar.

That number includes a few glyph and elder god badges. Your only chance to snag a glyph or elder god badge is at this meetup!  No sense in letting them go to waste.

Looking forward to meeting the cult!

u/earlsalazar — 5 days ago
▲ 171 r/Defcon+1 crossposts

Puzzle #1 - Shall We Play a Game?

Welcome back, Everyone, to a new year and some new puzzles in preperation for the r/DEFCON SubReddit Meetup!

This year u/MetaN3rd, u/Killroy7777 and I (u/digitard) will be bringing you 10 puzzles. Like always it'll start pretty straight forward, but we hope to twist it up by the end. We might even have some goodies at the meetup for some of the top solvers so definitely submit those answers. Let's be honest we will have some goodies.

This year we're also using a submission system developed by our team to make tracking the solves easier so we can make sure you get your credit!

So lets get to it, eh?

jung vf gur onpxqbbe cnffjbeq gb gur jbce va jnetnzrf?jung vf gur onpxqbbe cnffjbeq gb gur jbce va jnetnzrf?

To submit your solve go to https://ctf.puzzledhackers.org/ and select the "Shall We Play a Game" puzzle.

Have questions or need help? Just ping myself or u/Killroy7777 and we'll be happy to help you out!

FAQ's:

  1. Do we need to use the submission system?
    1. No, only if you want to have your ongoing solve score used for potential SubReddit Meetup Giveaways.
  2. Why the submission system?
    1. We've been giving away more and more swag to Puzzle Participants, those who went last year saw the line, and we're trying to streamline the claim process. The system is only used to track how many solves you have, and when you solved it for tie breakers instead of manually tracking it in an Excel sheet. Plus it lets us give you a QR code for the giveaway portion for fast claiming when we're at the meetups! The top X solvers will be able to claim their swag via said QR code much more rapidly so the line should move much much faster. Same with any pre-purchase/reserved badges. The QR system will speed that up. That's it. Simple as that. Also if there is any premium swag (working on it, like last year for extras) you can find the info on the site too when it goes live.

Thanks for participating, and more information on the meetups will be coming soon.

The PuzzledHackers Team,

u/MetaN3rd, u/Killroy7777 and u/digitard

u/digitard — 7 days ago
▲ 16 r/Defcon

DEFCON First Time - Solo

Hey guys, had a bunch of question I wanted to get clarity on to better understand what's the best way to do my first year.

Q1: Wanting to come on a Friday, but are physical badges limited and FCFS? I'd like a physical badge instead of just a paper copy lol. But wanted to limit how much PTO I used for the event. Should I just take Thursday off, fly in Wednesday and get the physical badge early when it opens?

Q2: Realistically how much cash is expected to be carried? Vendors really don't accept card or tap? It seems unrealistic to carry hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your person if you don't live in the hotels.

Q3: If I'm choosing to stay in an Airbnb for convivence - will I really be limited to not attending local bar gatherings within hotels? Saw them hotel prices and was like :T "Outta your fucking mind."

Q4: SAOs and Badges-- I know this question is subjective but do badges make or break an experience or just heighten the experience for an attendee? Are there any Badges/SAOs you all are going for this year? Really interested in the #badgelife!

Q5: Are there any other group chats, social media (X, Telegram, Discord) that I should be interested in checking out? I plan to join LHC's Telegram but wanted to connect since I'm going by myself.

Q6: Burner laptop or personal laptop? Hell even bring a laptop? Coworker told me don't bring my Mac because they'll crucify me on a cross lol. I'm new to it all but want to explore and try things (with of course not being compromised, VPN will be on and OS will be updated.)

I appreciate the assistance!

reddit.com
u/AceDotExe_ — 5 days ago
▲ 18 r/Defcon

First Time

Anything I should know about going to DEFCON this year?

Some questions I have:

Is there a must see village that doesn’t get the hype it deserves?

Do you prioritize sets/talks or just wing it?

Any tips for making friends?

Lastly, do people go to these events and land jobs?

reddit.com
u/manakinnn — 7 days ago
▲ 9 r/Defcon

Badge Questions

Hey all - first time Defcon attendee - i paid the 580 but i'm wondering, since this is an electronic badge gear, does the badge come with the 580? will i need to purchase it separately? I'm really stoked on it after viewing the schematics and from their site. But they mention:

>DEF CON 34 is an electronic badge year, and we've got something very special in store, created for us by a hardware hacking legend. We can't share too much at this juncture, but we can say this: it will be iconic. First round Hall of Fame. In addition to being a cool badge, it's a platform. It's a full-fledged, first-of-its-kind inspectable platform. Long after closing ceremonies we think you'll still be using this device to regain some agency and security in this rapidly complexifying world.

I think the last one was that cat shaped one that had all of the, ahem, interesting drama surrounding it, but I guess I'm wondering what I will need to do to secure a badge. I also know that a lot of folks will build their own bespoke badges that can range from free - 50 bucks or so. So i'll be sure to bring ~$500 in cash with me for that and various other things.

Any insight is appreciated! Thanks!

reddit.com
u/nummpad — 7 days ago
▲ 9 r/Defcon

Vendor whitepapers to justify trip?

First, hi and thanks for reading!

I head up the annual DEFcon trip for my job and this is the second year we're going.

Our boss wants me to get white papers from any vendors to help justify the trip expense.

I know this isn't the place for vendors to shill services/products, but does anyone have tips on what vendors to look for or where they would be so we can get it out of the way?

reddit.com
u/Bigfoot983 — 7 days ago
▲ 16 r/Defcon

r/DEFCON Meetup Puzzle #5 - Bite My Shiny Metal Hex

Good News, Everyone. It's time for Puzzle #5 and the last one before the back half! What's the back half? Well... its the back half of the puzzles.

Everything is FLYING by, and we're excited to hit this midway point! Not even 40 days left til Summer Camp, and the Annual Subreddit Meetups! What is the meetup? Well, click that link... but the jist of it is Wednesday (Aug 5th) and Thursday (Aug 6th) from 7pm until whenever come hang out with us at the Link 3535 / Circle Bar! Come meet some great people, and hang out in a non stressful environment with u/Killroy7777, myself and u/MetaN3rd along with a few hundred of your new friends. It's an annual tradition afterall!

So. Here. We. Go!

LINK: https://puzzledhackers.org/challenges/2026/05

To submit your solve go to https://ctf.puzzledhackers.org/ and select the "Bite My Shiny Metal Hex" puzzle. Submit your answer, and if its right... profit!

Have questions or need help? Just ping myself or u/Killroy7777 and we'll be happy to help you out!

FAQ's:

Do we need to use the submission system?

  • No, only if you want to have your ongoing solve score used for potential SubReddit Meetup Giveaways.

Why the submission system?

  • We've been giving away more and more swag to Puzzle Participants, those who went last year saw the line, and we're trying to streamline the claim process. The system is only used to track how many solves you have, and when you solved it for tie breakers instead of manually tracking it in an Excel sheet. Plus it lets us give you a QR code for the giveaway portion for fast claiming when we're at the meetups! The top X solvers will be able to claim their swag via said QR code much more rapidly so the line should move much much faster. Same with any pre-purchase/reserved badges. The QR system will speed that up. That's it. Simple as that. Also if there is any premium swag (working on it, like last year for extras) you can find the info on the site too when it goes live.

PRIOR PUZZLE STATS ON COMPLETION:

  • PUZZLE #1 - 176
  • PUZZLE #2 - 117
  • PUZZLE #3 - 74
  • PUZZLE #4 - 57

Haven't done the prior puzzles? Dont worry. Just go the CTF system, and when you click the puzzle the link is there! So get those solves in!

https://ctf.puzzledhackers.org/challenges

Lets keep it going!

Thanks for participating, and more information on the meetups will be coming soon.

The PuzzledHackers Team,

u/MetaN3rd, u/Killroy7777 and u/digitard

puzzledhackers.org
u/digitard — 8 days ago
▲ 41 r/Defcon

Update: “Not Just a Crosswalk” SAO

UPDATE (6/28):

Separate Listings for Pickup vs. Shipping: To help keep orders accurate and avoid any confusion, I've updated the store to have two separate listings: one for Shipping and one for Local Pickup.

This change makes it easier for me to track your specific needs (mailing vs. in-person pickup) and ensures your order is processed correctly and efficiently.

New Flag Support: I have added new flags for: Poly, Bear, Leather, Disability, and Demi Pride.

Ally Pride Flag: As I was working on the SAO, really noticed that there were some hardware limitations (specifically the 18-LED count and PCB layout), where I could not create more complex flag displays like the Ally Pride flag. However, I created a similar Ally shape using the lambda character "Λ" as a sticker using black vinyl that you can add to the SAO/Badge and will include one on request. I think it gets the idea across.

Furry Pride: Still working on a solution that might be similar to the Ally with a sticker.

SAO Security: Additionally, to keep you from losing your SAO if it gets bumped off a badge or totem, I am including a charm lanyard with a Lobster Clasp to securely attach the SAO to your host badge, totem, or other lanyard.

Stay Loud and Stay Proud!

Previous posts including preorder link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Defcon/s/iTliJuIiX9

u/Keeloi79 — 7 days ago
▲ 9 r/Defcon

First timer - Have a Flipper 0. What should I use it for @ DC?

Title says most of it. I'm going on works dime and plan to make the most of it. I'm super excited.

It's my first time to defcon. I have a Flipper Zero with developer board + wifi. I want to learn and expand my knowledge with it or at least have fun with it.

What's some party tricks or insightful things I can do with it?

I've heard about using it for the laser tag badge. Any other fun things to do?

reddit.com
u/ASpecificUsername — 8 days ago