Events

Hidden throughout this year’s venue is a card collection found only at HITCON.

Every attendee’s badge is embedded with an NTAG215 NFC chip. Simply tap your phone against another attendee’s badge to complete an exchange and unlock their exclusive card. Explore the venue, meet fellow attendees, tap badges, unlock cards, and gradually complete your very own HITCON card collection.

This is more than just a collecting game. It is also a reason to start a conversation and meet new people. You might begin a chat because of a card you want to collect, or come across unexpected new connections along the way. At HITCON, don’t just exchange business cards—exchange collectible cards too!

During the event, the system will rank participants based on the number of cards collected. Attendees with the highest collection counts will have a chance to win the grand prize.

The Community & Village booths bring together top-tier cybersecurity communities. Beyond showcasing their milestones and sharing event experiences, they offer a treasure trove of hands-on technical experiences.

Packed with short Talks, practical Labs, tool demonstrations, and various interactive activities, the village allows attendees to get their hands dirty, experience different infosec technologies firsthand, and engage face-to-face with community members to keep pulse on the latest cybersecurity trends and applications.

Whether you’re looking to connect with a community, level up your technical skills, or find like-minded peers—this is the place to be!

Past PCB Badges are more than just passes from previous events — they are now your entry ticket to a new exploration adventure!

To join Badge Quest, please bring your 2024 or 2025 PCB Badge to the event team booth first and have it flashed with the event firmware. Once the update is complete, you will receive your first mission clue and officially begin your treasure hunt!

Follow the clues to mission stations hidden throughout the venue. Complete the interactions, solve the prompts, and gradually collect pieces of a QR Code. Once you have gathered every piece, the complete QR Code will appear on your Badge. Scan it to unlock the final message, then return to the event booth to claim your exclusive reward.

Looking for an extra challenge? Hidden bonus quests for advanced players will also be waiting at the venue. Attendees who enjoy exploring Badge behavior, noticing interaction details, and solving technical puzzles may discover a secret route leading to limited rewards.

Get your Badge ready, flash the event firmware first, and follow the clues to begin your adventure!

What exactly is an Industrial Control System (ICS)? Is it just the massive machinery running a giant factory? Or is it like in the movies, where a hacker taps a few keys and brings an entire power plant to a grinding halt? In reality, everyday conveniences like vending machines, beverage dispensers, automatic doors, and even assembly line equipment are often managed by industrial devices such as PLCs, relays, and sensors.

But what do industrial control systems have to do with hackers? In the real world, these devices exchange data using various industrial communication protocols. Figuring out how the hardware operates, analyzing network traffic, and deciphering the control logic is the vital first step in researching ICS security.

In this ICS challenge, you will step into a simulated industrial environment. You'll use Wireshark to intercept MQTT communications, read PLC Ladder Logic, and uncover the mechanism behind the machinery. By sending custom MQTT messages to manipulate PLC variables, you'll trigger the relays and ultimately get the beverage machine to successfully dispense a drink.

Ready to channel your inner ICS hacker, crack the control logic, and pour yourself a drink? Let's dive in!

What is soldering? Is it about joining huge pieces of metal together? Does it shoot flames? Not quite! In this soldering experience event, you will be trying PCB soldering—the kind used for things like last year’s PCB Badge, computer motherboards, and more.

But what does soldering have to do with hackers? That brings us to an important point: in all kinds of hardware devices, getting as much information as possible through debug interfaces reserved by the design itself is a great way to obtain data from a PCB (OuOb).

In this soldering experience event, you will get hands-on experience with basic PCB soldering techniques, component placement, and lighting up the PCB Hacker Cat!

Please note, however, that due to PCB design, components, and other related costs, this soldering experience event will require a fee.

The PCB Hacker Cat will meet you at the venue—stay tuned!