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Hackers To School Next Generation At DEFCON Kids

Posted by Soulskill on from the first-sploit-is-free dept.

fangmcgee writes "DEFCON hackers will share their skills with the next generation at a first-ever children's version of the infamous gathering of software renegades, lock pickers and social engineers. A hacker conference for children is controversial even in the DEFCON community. Prime targets for criticism include lock picking and social engineering, the art of manipulating people into revealing sensitive information. 'Everyone is up in arms that we are going to teach kids to be evil, but that is not the case,' said Chris Hadnagy, who trains companies to guard against slick-talking hackers and runs the website social-engineer.org. 'Think critically, think objectively — that is what this industry teaches people,' continued Hadnagy, a DEFCON Kids mentor. "

5 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. To catch a crook... by MaxToTheMax · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Teaching these kids the fundamentals of social engineering will help them recognize it and avoid being victimized by it. I think this is a really great idea.

  2. 'Think critically, think objectively by h4rr4r · · Score: 5, Informative

    'Think critically, think objectively

    That is why it is really being criticized, no one wants kids thinking that way. Then they might question stuff.

  3. Teaching kids the basic scams by Animats · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There's something to be said for this. Kids should be taught all the common scams in school. Every kid should know the classics - the shell game, the badger game, the big store, the Spanish prisoner, lottery scams, pyramid schemes, forced teaming, etc. See List of Confidence Tricks on Wikipedia.

  4. Re:Hmmm ... by ThinkWeak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think this might allow those that are curious to ask questions in an open forum surrounded by like-minded individuals instead of secretly trying to do things that could result in some stiff punishment. Gone are the days where one was allowed to:

    1.) "being curious" about trying to connect to a business' modem to see what happens

    or
    2.) Mixing up a cocktail from anarchist's cookbook

    Now, they are acts of terrorism. In the past, 15 years or more ago, you could get away with these things and continue learning. I wouldn't try half the stuff I did back in the day for fear of being locked up or visited.

    Of course these kids are going to try some of the things from the conference, just teach them which ones will have the stiffest penalties.

  5. Re:Better that kids be indoctrinated by hackers... by hedwards · · Score: 4, Funny

    Fortunately, this way they're less likely to ever have sex.