DEF CON 29
Table of Contents
1. Overview
DEF CON 29 (August 5–8, 2021). Theme: "Can't Stop the Signal." Hybrid event (in-person + virtual). Did not attend.
2. Badge
Electronic badge with ATSAMD21G16B microcontroller. Badge firmware and hardware files: compukidmike/Defcon29.
Badge archive (1.3 GiB): media.defcon.org.
3. Badge Cipher
Multi-layer puzzle. Known decode pipeline for the TOR badge:
- Layer 0: Morse code on the lanyard → plaintext
- Layer 1: ROT cipher →
KONAMICODEHELPMENU(Konami code easter egg) - Layer 2+: unsolved by many attendees; deeper layers in the firmware
The Morse → ROT pipeline is directly testable in the encode tool (ROT13 decode).
Badge also featured a Simon-game interaction mechanic for unlocking challenge layers.
4. References
- Badge firmware (GitHub)
- Echelon Cyber: DC29 review + badge spoilers
- Reddit: Full badge challenge walkthrough
- Encode tool — decode badge ciphers interactively
- Reversible Pipeline Transforms — the theory