Events

Walk into conference, wat do?

 

Friday Workshops

Where: Magnolia and Dogwood
When: Fri (1:00 - 5:00)

We are thrilled to be able to offer two Friday Workshops this year: 

• Machine Learning Security 

• Advanced Offensive Security: Packers, Loaders, and Implants for Real-World Red Teaming
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Pre-registration is required for workshop attendance. 

Learn more about the workshops and register here. 

 

Hardware Hacking Village

Where: Magnolia
When: Fri (1:00 - 5:00 and 6:25 - 10:30), Sat (09:30 - 20:30), Sun (09:30-11:30)

Step into the Hardware Hacking Village and get your hands dirty with electronics! Whether you're a seasoned tinkerer or a curious first-timer, HHV offers hands-on activities like soldering your own badge accessories and diving into signal analysis straight from the badge itself. Come learn, build, and break stuff—no experience necessary, just curiosity and a steady-ish hand.
 

Capture The Flag

Where: Magnolia
When: Fri (18:30 - 22:00), Sat (09:30 - 20:30), Sun (09:30-11:30)

EverSec CTF is a Capture The Flag competition about the fictitious company Eversec who gets hacked and needs some friendly hacker help. Hosted by the EverSec crew, this CTF has been run at multiple cons over the years, including BSides RDU, BSides Asheville, BSides Charleston, and returning to CackalackyCon! 
 

The Eversec CTF was founded in 2016 by @gabemarshall after being inspired by competing in the DerbyCon CTF. The CTF has always been a group effort, but is currently being developed by the following individuals: @gabemarshall @stevemyrick @jmacko @claytondorsey @doylersec @ch1kpee David B and @offsec_ginger.
 

Lockpick Village 

Where: Oak 
When: Fri (18:30 - 22:00), Sat (09:30 - 20:30), Sun (09:30-11:30)

Oak City Locksport will be running a Lockpick Village. If you've never picked a lock and want to learn this is the place to start. If you're an intermediate or advanced picker and want to try something new, ask the Village staff because not everything we have may not be out! 

OCL will have: 
- Picking contests and games 
- OCL Store: Progressive and re-pinnable locks will be available for sale along with a variety of picks and picking gear, swag, etc. 

OCL is the RDU area locksport club, founded in 2010. We meet once a month to pick locks and share our projects. Find us on Meetup to attend a meeting. 
 

Career Village

Where: Dogwood
When: Sat (09:30 - 12:30)

Looking for a job? Looking for an employee or new collegue? Need someone to take a look at your résumé and offer advice? Looking to network? This is the place.

Hacker Swan Party

Where: Hotel Bar 
When: Sat (10:30)

Hang out with other attendees in what you feel comfortably fancy in. Hacker Swan is optional, but it's a fun excuse to wear those elegant clothes in the back of your closet you don't have other chances to wear.

 

Wireless Shoothouse

Where: Magnolia
When: Sat (09:30 - 22:00), Sun (10:00 - 11:30)

GreenHat Solutions (GHS) presents a 802.11 (WiFi) Capture The Flag event. 
Unlike many CTF’s, the Shoothouse provides an opportunity to conduct wireless penetration testing against various targets. While capturing the keys to access the wireless network will award points, the challenge doesn’t end there. Competitors will have the option to find additional flags; these flags will either require accessing the router user interface, the client devices, or the traffic between clients.Contestants will have the chance to train on or hone their skills with a vast arsenal of tools, and techniques to include: 
Hashcat, JtR, Crunch, Cewl, most tools in the aircrack suite, hydra, medusa, mdk-3, pyrit, coWPAtty, nmap, wireshark, macchanger, Metasploit, ettercap…

 

CKC Sidequests

Where: Everywhere
When: BINGO will start at opening ceremonies

Ready to break away from the main questline? Want to discover what else the conference has to offer and maybe do it with a friend you made in lobbycon? Step into sidequest mode-- a pair of off-script (and connected) challenges packed with puzzles, physical feats, and hacker hijinks. Shenanigans encouraged. 

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Obscura Sidequest 

Decode, uncover, and chase down clues in this puzzle-fueled quest . Expect ciphers, stego, decoding, hidden flags, physical and hacking challenges, and maybe a red herring or three. No experience needed—just curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to chase strange things around the con. It’s not just for crypto wizards in black hoodies muttering about XOR. Team or individual event.

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BINGO Sidequest 

Lockpick a square. Solder another. Solve weird tasks around the con to fill your card and win glory. This is a maximum shenanigans event. Think DEFCON scavenger hunt with some more practical aspects but in a BINGO format. Individual only event. No teams. 

Pick one. Pick both. Just don’t forget to loot the fun. And remember - they are Connected.

 

Crypto & Coffee

Breakout Room: LobbyCon aka Upper Courtyard
When: Saturday 9:00 - 11:00

Hodlers unite. Join us to learn about/discuss/buy/sell cryptocurrency. All your apes are belong to us if you bring them up. 

 

Hacker Trivia 

Where: Main Talk Room 
When: Sat (21:30 - 22:30)

Do you know a lot of random things about hacking or hackers? Let the games begin.

 

Pitches in the Pool 

Where: The Pool 
When: all the time

** No drink glasses in the pool! **

Pitch your product, service, company, etc from the most exclusive speaking stage of the conference. Saturate the market, soak up leads, and make a big splash. There's no dry delivery in the pool track. Must be physically in the pool during the entire pitch. There will not be a schedule or guaranteed audience. Be considerate of other hotel guests that aren't here for the conference. cackalackycon does not endorse anything pitched in the pool. 
 

 

HAM Radio Testing 

Where: Raleigh Boardroom 
When: Sat (14:30 - 16:00)

We are so happy to be offering ham exams this year! So start studying. 📚

You *must* register for a spot and apply for a FRN *before* the exam.

You must have a FCC Registration Number (FRN) before you can take any license examination. If you are already licensed, you already have a FRN; it’s on your copy of your license. If you do not have a FRN, you must apply for one on-line, directly from the FCC. This page explains how to obtain a FRN. While you may apply for a FRN at the test session, it is highly advisable to obtain it in advance of the session, as the FCC website is often down for maintenance during non-business hours and on weekends, which is when we administer the exam.