DefCamp 2024 wasn’t your average conference. It was two packed days of cybersecurity action, held in Bucharest on November 28-29. With over 2,000 attendees from 50 countries, this year’s event brought together some of the sharpest minds in infosec.
But in true DefCamp fashion, things didn’t just happen – they got intense.
Here’s the breakdown of what went down at this year’s DefCamp.
Over 2,000 attendees, in the heaviest building in the world
Whether you were a seasoned expert or a curious first-timer (fun fact: 53% of attendees were new), DefCamp was the perfect place to connect. People from 720 organizations showed up, from private companies to government agencies and universities, proving that cybersecurity truly is everyone’s business.
There were networking sessions, tech demos, and spontaneous hallway conversations that turned into game-changing collaborations. DefCamp is where ideas are born, partnerships are built, and the future of cybersecurity gets shaped.
The vibe was electric – everyone from the CISOs to students were not just exchanging knowledge, but also brainstorming the next big thing in cybersecurity.
Epic content and endless learning opportunities
What do you get when 60 speakers cover everything from AI and quantum computing to the latest social engineering tricks? Forty hours of pure, mind-expanding content.
This year, the talks weren’t just theoretical – they tackled real-world challenges and practical solutions. The focus? Staying one step ahead of attackers. Topics ranged from advanced attack techniques to emerging cybersecurity technologies. Whether it was about minimizing attack surfaces, securing cloud environments, or addressing persistent vulnerabilities, attendees left armed with strategies they could implement right away.
Hacking Village: where the cybersecurity thingamajig happens
The Hacking Village is always a one-of-a-kind experience. With 18 competitions this year (yup, new milestone!), it was the perfect playground for ethical hackers and problem solvers.
The DefCamp Capture the Flag (D-CTF) competition was a record-breaker this year. Nearly 800 teams from 92 countries entered the fray, and 16 made it to the finals in Bucharest. It was intense, it was fun, and it crowned Hackemus Papam from the Vatican as champions. A local team, The Few Chosen, won “Best Romanian Team” while earning second place overall. Wreck the Line, an international team with members from Romania, ranked third.
And then – among other competitions, of course, feel free to check them here – there was the Trace Labs OSINT Search Party CTF, where things got personal. Participants used open-source intelligence to tackle real missing person cases. The result? New leads in 5 cases that were handed over to local authorities.
It was cybersecurity with a purpose, and it left a lasting impact. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of competition and purpose-driven collaboration, showing that the ethical hacker community isn’t just about skills – it’s about making a difference.
Oh, and we got hacked (the irony…)
Yes, you read that right, but not quite. While we were busy learning, networking, and competing, a group of hackers (i.e. Russian hacker group NoName057(16)) tried to disrupt the conference by attacking the DefCamp website and infrastructure.
But they clearly underestimated our security team, who shut them out fast. We’ll let you imagine how that showdown played out.
Fun fact, they targeted @DefCampRO while I was there. It lead to about 1 hour of the defcamp page being down
Effect: NONE
Conference went on.
Talks went on.
People where safe and happy.Yet they celebrated it as a “big victory”.
These #DDOS idiots are not worth any attention! https://t.co/Bt21UWtWDF— Gi7w0rm (@Gi7w0rm) December 2, 2024
This wasn’t just a “wow, that happened” moment – it was a live demonstration of the threats we face daily in cybersecurity. If anything, it reinforced why events like DefCamp are so important. It was a perfect reminder of the relentless challenges faced by cybersecurity professionals and how quickly things can escalate when the stakes are high.
Looking ahead: DefCamp 2025!
As we wrapped up DefCamp 2024, one thing was clear: the cybersecurity community is stronger than ever, but there’s always more to do. Next year, we’re going even bigger, with plans to expand our competitions, bring in even more diverse speakers, and create new ways to connect and collaborate.
A massive thank you to everyone who made this year’s event unforgettable – our attendees (many thanks for your wonderful feedback!), partners (check them out in the picture below, pretty please!), speakers (absolutely unforgettable – watch their recorded sessions in our YouTube playlist), and the amazing DefCamp team. You didn’t just make this a conference; you made it a movement.
I attended @DefCampRO and it was a blast! Hope to come back in Romania soon pic.twitter.com/u3olTFeHZh
— b0n0b0 (@b0n0b0__) December 3, 2024
Get ready – DefCamp 2025 is already in the works, and it’s going to be bigger and better!
Want to get involved as a partner? Drop us a message.
Until then, Happy Holidays and see you soon! We’ll be sharing exciting announcements all the way until November 2025!
