Hello friend.

DEF CON 34 may be behind us, but the momentum it created is still moving through the global DEF CON Groups community.

At DEF CON, we met hundreds of people looking for their local group, hoping to reactivate an inactive group, or interested in starting something new. We also heard from established organizers who want better ways to help people discover their meetings and connect with their communities.

September is about turning that enthusiasm into local participation, updating our group records, and making active DEF CON Groups easier to find.

Introducing the DEF CON Hub on InfoSecMap

We are excited to announce a new partnership between DEF CON Groups and InfoSecMap.

InfoSecMap has created a dedicated DEF CON Hub where people can discover DEF CON Groups and their events on an interactive global map:

The hub gives people another way to find active DEF CON Groups in their area, learn more about local communities, and identify opportunities to participate.

InfoSecMap has worked with the DEF CON Groups department to add the groups in our current verified public directory. Going forward, our teams will continue working together to keep those listings updated as new groups are approved and existing groups update their information.

This is a significant step toward making the global DCG network more visible and accessible.

A list is useful when someone already knows what they are looking for. A map allows someone to explore what exists around them.

We Need Your Current Group Information

The InfoSecMap hub is only as useful as the information available to it.

This makes September the perfect time to update your group’s roster and public information while the enthusiasm following DEF CON is still high.

We need every active DEF CON Group to confirm:

• The group’s current primary and secondary points of contact

• Current organizer email addresses

• The city, state, province, or country served

• The group’s website

• Current social-media and community links

• How frequently the group meets

• Where people can find upcoming meeting information

• Whether the group is currently accepting new participants

Groups must complete an updated information form annually to remain verified and listed as active.

If your group has changed organizers, meeting locations, websites, social accounts, or communication platforms, please do not assume we already know. Submit the current information so we can update both the official DCG records and the public information provided to InfoSecMap.

Complete the DEF CON Groups Directory & Meeting Information Form.

You may email [email protected] if you need to request the link to the update form, report a POC change, or have questions about your listing.

Please send updates through the DEF CON Groups department rather than contacting InfoSecMap to alter an official DCG listing. This allows us to verify the change once and keep the DEF CON Groups directory, InfoSecMap hub, and internal records aligned.

Keeping the DEF CON Groups Directory Current

We are continuing the largest review and cleanup of DEF CON Groups records in several years.

Many groups have already completed the updated DEF CON Groups Directory & Meeting Information Form. Thank you. These submissions are helping us replace dead links, reconnect with organizers, identify inactive groups, correct meeting information, and improve the public directory.

Annual confirmation helps us determine:

• Whether the group is still meeting

• Whether at least one point of contact is reachable

• Whether the group’s website and social links still work

• Whether its meeting information is reasonably accurate

• Whether its listed organizers are still involved

• Whether someone attempting to start a new group should instead be connected with an existing one

This is not identity verification, and we do not require organizers to submit government-issued identification.

Verification is based on active community participation, reachable organizers, accurate public information, and adherence to DEF CON Groups guidelines.

If your group was marked inactive or unverified because we could not reach its organizers, submitting the form begins the review process. It does not automatically restore a group to active status, but it gives us the information needed to determine the appropriate next step.

Meeting Information Should Be Public

A DEF CON Group should provide enough public information for someone in its area to determine whether the group is active and how to participate.

At minimum, we strongly recommend maintaining a public page that includes:

• The city or region served

• How frequently the group meets

• The date or general schedule of upcoming meetings

• A working way to contact the organizers

• Information about how new people can participate

We understand that some groups intentionally maintain a limited social-media presence. That is fine. Groups do not need to publish constantly or operate accounts on every platform.

However, if every available link is dead, no meetings are listed, and organizers cannot be reached, we cannot reasonably represent the group as active in the public directory or on the InfoSecMap hub.

The purpose of these resources is to help humans find other humans. They only work when the information is usable.

Show Us What Your Group Is Doing

We want to do more to highlight the work happening inside local DEF CON Groups.

If your group is hosting a meetup, running a workshop, participating in a community event, building a project, publishing research, supporting another hacker organization, or doing something particularly creative, tell us.

You can:

• Tag @DEFCON_groups in public posts

• Email updates to [email protected]

• Send us photographs or links that we have permission to share

• Tell us about organizers or members doing meaningful community work

• Make sure your public event information is current so it can be shared through the InfoSecMap hub

We cannot amplify something we do not know about.

When sending photographs, please confirm that the people pictured have agreed to have the images shared publicly. Please also include the name of the group, the event or activity, and any accounts we should tag.

Feature Friday

We are developing a regular Feature Friday series to introduce people to active DEF CON Groups around the world.

Features may include:

• Photographs from recent meetings

• A short introduction to the group

• The region the group serves

• The types of activities or topics its members enjoy

• How and where the group meets

• Links for people who want to get involved

The goal is not to rank groups or reward whoever holds the largest event. A small group meeting consistently and creating a welcoming local community is every bit as much a part of DEF CON Groups as a group capable of filling an auditorium.

Consistency, participation, and community matter more than headcount.

If you would like your group considered for a future feature, email [email protected] with the subject line Feature Friday.

Starting or Reactivating a DEF CON Group

If you are interested in starting a DEF CON Group, contact us before choosing a name or announcing the group publicly.

Email [email protected] and tell us the city or region you hope to serve.

We will check whether:

• An active group already serves the area

• An existing group may simply have outdated contact information

• An inactive group may be eligible for reactivation

• Nearby organizers should be connected

• A new group is the appropriate path forward

The goal is to strengthen local communities, not create competing groups because two sets of organizers did not know about each other.

If a group already exists, we will generally attempt to connect prospective organizers with its current points of contact. If the existing group is no longer active or its organizers cannot be reached, we will explain the process for potentially reactivating or replacing it.

Brief Department Update

Jayson E. Street has voluntarily resigned from his position as DEF CON Groups Global Ambassador. We thank Jayson for his years of service and contributions to the DEF CON Groups community.

The DEF CON Groups department has also retired the Ambassador role. There are no Global, Regional, Country, or other Ambassador positions recognized by DEF CON Groups or DEF CON.

We have received reports of individuals contacting community members while claiming to represent DEF CON Groups as Ambassadors for particular countries or regions. These individuals do not speak for DEF CON Groups or DEF CON and have no authority over local groups.

Please disregard any instructions based on an Ambassador title and report the interaction to [email protected].

Official DCG communication and decisions come from the DEF CON Groups department through established DEF CON channels. When in doubt, contact the shared mailbox directly.

What to Focus on This Month

September is the time to bring the energy from DEF CON back into your local community.

Hold a meeting.

Welcome the person who discovered your group after DEF CON.

Confirm that your organizer roster is current.

Check your group’s listing on the InfoSecMap DEF CON Hub.

Update your public meeting and contact information.

Tell us what your group is building.

If your group has gone quiet, decide whether it is time to restart it or help someone new carry it forward.

DEF CON Groups exist because people decide their local hacker community is worth showing up for.

See you locally.

DEF CON Groups
[email protected]
https://defcongroups.org
https://infosecmap.com/defcon/
@DEFCON_groups