Black Hat, one of the largest security conferences in the world, is almost upon us. There are less than two weeks to go before hackers and security professionals make the annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas. The conference will highlight the newest research and technology, the largest threats and the biggest trends in this crazy world we like to call cybersecurity.
And whenever the topic of Black Hat (aka Hacker Summer Camp) arises, there is always a discussion, barely masking a simmering panic from newbies, regarding their personal and technical security as Black Hat attendees. Questions like,
“Should I use the public wifi? Is it really that dangerous to bring my personal iPhone? Can I check my email outside of my hotel room?”
come up all too often. Every year, in fact.
And on top of all that, there are still thousands of attendees who’ll actually be trying to get some work done at the conference. So instead of avoiding technology altogether (leave the abacus and the rotary phone at home), our team at Comodo wanted to share our top tips and tricks you’ll need to not just survive but thrive at Black Hat. Herein, we present our top 7 list to make it through the gauntlet of hackers, sales types, roving media, security execs and experts, oh and all the regular tourists.
- At Black Hat, data is generally not safe – even in your hotel room or on the show floor. Remember, you’re at a hacker conference – where people come to learn about security, but also where others like to play games to see who they can hack and what they can steal. So, if you are going to be on the network, try to use a VPN or encrypted traffic to keep your data protected.
- Beware of Skimmers. ATM skimming is on the rise, and in a place crawling with hackers, there are excellent odds that an ATM skimmer will be lifting card numbers and PINs somewhere near Mandalay Bay or in your hotel. If possible, get some cash from your own bank before you head out to Vegas and, while in town, try to limit yourself to using just one credit card, just in case.
- Don’t use public charging stations for your devices. Malware can easily be downloaded through these connections. If your phone or tablet loses charge quickly, maybe pack an extra battery or external power source to give ‘em a little extra juice when they need it.
- Put a password on all of your devices. This seems like such an easy concept, but many people do not have a password or pin to lock/protect their device. Be sure to use one, and think of something more creative – as in harder to guess – than simply ‘1234.’
- Turn off Bluetooth and NFC. If you’re not using these features during the conference, leave them turned off. Not only will they drain your battery faster, but they’ll also leave you susceptible to attacks. Even better, just put your phone on airplane mode and then you don’t need to worry about a thing.
- Bring Purell and wash your hands often. Conferences in general are breeding grounds for colds, flus and the dreaded norovirus! You will be shaking hands, grabbing swag and touching a lot of doors and elevator buttons. Always have some sort of hand sanitizer with you, and be sure to wash those mitts – especially before chowing down.
- Register for parties if that‘s your thing. Most parties during Black Hat require you to either register beforehand or have a ticket (or wristband, lanyard, or secret handshake) to enter. If you want to attend a particular party, be sure to register in advance. Otherwise, you’re unlikely to get past the front door, no matter how hard you try. So plan ahead.
AND perhaps most importantly, and on the party theme, “Join the Fight” against cybercrime at Comodo’s Black Hat Party at the GhostBar! Click here to register now!
And for complete coverage of what’s happening at Black Hat, and for the latest news, trends and stories direct from the cybersecurity trenches, be sure to subscribe to DEFEND.
