This summer, I finally went to Las Vegas for Black Hat and DEF CON — two events that have shaped hacker culture for decades. It was my first time there, and I went with Charlie Bromberg, the creator of Exegol. Together we filmed and released a vlog of the experience, capturing both the atmosphere and what those events have become today.
The Myth vs. The Reality
When you grow up in the cybersecurity world, Black Hat and DEF CON sound like the holy land — the ultimate places where hackers, researchers, and security enthusiasts gather. And yes, there’s something magical about being surrounded by tens of thousands of people who all speak the same language of curiosity, exploitation, and creativity.
But once you’re there, you also start to see how events evolve. Every scene, every culture, every community goes through a cycle:
It starts raw, underground, cheap, authentic — then it grows, becomes trendy, and ends up optimized for scale and sponsors.
Black Hat today feels more like a corporate showcase than a hacker conference. You walk through massive sponsor halls full of polished booths, sales pitches, and branded swag. It’s impressive, but it’s not inspiring.
DEF CON: The Spirit Lives in the Villages
DEF CON, at least, still keeps a part of its soul — if you know where to look. The best parts weren’t the main stages or big talks, but the villages.
Two stood out for me: • Data Duplication / Replication Village — full of passionate people doing real work, hands-on, creative, chaotic. • Packet Hacking Village — the legendary “Wall of Sheep,” the dark lights, the raw hacker vibe. It felt like stepping back into what DEF CON used to be.
Those corners reminded me why we hack: not for sponsors or visibility, but for the joy of breaking, building, and sharing.
Reflections as a French Entrepreneur
Coming from France, where cybersecurity events are smaller and more community-driven, it was eye-opening to see the scale of Las Vegas. But it also reinforced something I believe deeply: authenticity doesn’t scale well.
If you try to grow without protecting your DNA, you end up losing what made you different in the first place. And that’s true for conferences — and for companies, too.
Looking Forward
I’m glad I went. I learned, I met people, and I got to see firsthand the contrast between the myth and the current reality of hacker culture at scale. But next year, if I go back, it’ll be for the villages, the side events, and the real people behind the badges — not the show floor.
You can watch the vlog we filmed with Charlie — it captures the energy better than any blog post could.