This year more than 60 UNLV cybersecurity students and Cyber Clinic members had the opportunity to attend the world’s largest hacker conference – DEF CON. Drawing 25,000+ attendees annually to Las Vegas, DEF CON includes speaker sessions, specialized onsite “villages” focused on individual hacker/security issues, competitions, and more. Students were able to take part in a variety of workshops covering topics including malware analysis, cloud forensics, and industrial malicious browser extensions, join Capture the Flag competitions, and participate in multiple “village” activities. 

“I learned practical skills from understanding network traffic through packet sniffing to hands-on problem solving with lock picking. This deepened my appreciation for both the technical and physical aspects of security. The Noob Village sessions provided a supportive environment to ask questions and build confidence with new tools. It was also refreshing to meet and network with seasoned professionals. Overall, these experiences reinforced my interest in cybersecurity and benefit both my academic growth and my future career by giving me a glimpse both practical skills and a broader perspective on the field.” Daman S., UNLV Cyber Clinic Member and DEFCON attendee

The event provides numerous opportunities for learning, networking, and making professional connections, but the ticket price can easily put it outside of the reach of students. Thanks to program funding – including through the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) – students were able to participate in this amazing event taking place in the University’s own backyard.

“I got the opportunity to hang out with the Las Vegas Valley Water District ISC team for the first day; we attended the Ham Radio Village where we attended a crash course of the use of radios as a hobby and in professions – I ended up taking the FCC Technician exam at the end of the class and passed it! In the end, I networked with members from a local organization, got a new certification, grouped up with friends for the Aerospace Village challenges and realized patch cabling is still my worst enemy. 10/10 Experience!” Jonathan G., UNLV Cyber Clinic Junior Member and DEFCON attendee