Hacker Summer Camp Tips and Tricks

It's that time of year again...

As I've been thinking about Hacker Summer Camp (aka Blackhat, BSides Las Vegas, DEF CON, and all of the associated and adjacent cons and Vegas things) this year, it occurred to me that there are going to a LOT of new founders and operators roaming the desert this year.

Here are a couple of survival guide's that I've written up previously, and most of what's in them hold up pretty well...

The first is lifted from the Bugcrowd pre-show briefing we used to do way back in the day, and focusses a lot on practical operational security and a general "what to expect" primer. This is the one you should probably read if you're venturing to the desert on business for the first time this year.

Practical prepping for Hacker Summer Camp

Here are some last-minute security and general “staying vertical” notes I shared with a few folks who are headed to B-Sides/Diana/Queercon/Blackhat/DEF CON. There are lots of other posts on Vegas survival, and I’ll post a list of them in a little bit… This

caseyjohnellisCasey Ellis

The second one touches on opsec and infosec as well, but digs much deeper into some of the quality of life hacks, things that can make ALL the difference between a rough week and a smooth one. Both of these have come together from attempting to shepherd hundreds of employee's and literally tens of thousands of hackers down to the desert for the first time over the years.

Digital and Personal Self-Care at #hackersummersamp — “New Normalish” Edition

I usually write a piece for first-timers and newbies on how to get the most out of Hacker Summer Camp and how to stay safe digitally and physically. This tradition began in the early days of Bugcrowd, when DEF CON was part of new-hire induction.

caseyjohnellisCasey Ellis

As for 2026:

1. 3 hours of sleep, 2 meals, 1 shower, every day - At a bare minimum.
2. Remember that the Strip is literally designed to encourage you to forget about self-care. Don't let the house win.
3. It's gonna be HOT this year... Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
4. The water in the hotels is almost always gross - Bring a little filter if you have one, pack a water bottle to fill at water fountains, or grab some friends and hit up a CVS or a Walgreens.
5. It's dark inside, and HELLA BRIGHT outside. Bring sunglasses and keep them with you.
6. I mentioned it's hot outside, but it's also HELLA COLD inside. A thin hoodie is clutch.
7. The air inside the hotels is super dry - My favorite trick in Vegas is putting a few inches of water into the tub or the sinks to humidify the room.
8. If it looks "close enough to walk" you're absolutely wrong.
9. If you're getting around between venues in a group, hiring a limo or a bus can actually work out cheaper than taxis or Ubers (and it's kinda fun, too).
10. The commute to and from HSC rivals Dulles Airport for "yup, I definitely shouldn't have heard that". Opsec starts when you leave for McCarran, and ends when you return home.
11. Remember that "for the lulz" shoots to the top of your threat model at Hacker Summer Camp, and given everyone is into vibecrime these days it's probably going to be an interesting show on that front (Shoutout to the SOC/NOC goons).
12. Spend quality time with your friends, and try to get away from the show/s at least once.

Have fun! Meet new people! Try new things! Learn new stuff! This coming week is hands-down my favorite for getting the ideas flowing.

Did I miss anything? Drop a comment with your favorite #hackersummercamp trick.

See you in the desert.