From 26C3 Public Wiki
FrequentlyAskedQuestions
General Questions
I'm 17 years old. Any problems there?
No.
Besides: Hackers should be judged by their hacking, not bogus criteria such as degrees, age, race, or position. (taken from: Hacker ethic)
Is the Congress-Center open 24/4?
Yes.
What to bring to a Lightning talk?
See
Study how the VGA out of your Laptop works. Especially if you have installed Linux only to show off during the Congress. The short periods during the Lightning Talks prohibit that you invest 5 minutes to the Settings of your Graphics card. (That's generally a good idea for all talkers.)
Mac users should bring their VGA adapter from home. Do not expect there will be one !
Network related
See also: How To Survive and the Network
Will there be 802.11a wifi at the congress?
Yes. See Network#WLAN
Can I bring my own wireless equipment to the Congress?
No, please do not bring any wireless access points with you and please do not operate a wireless access point at the 26C3. See Network#WLAN too.
Can I run my own network or my own DHCP server at the Congress?
No, please do not ever configure your laptop to run in Ad-Hoc mode nor otherwise create a network and please do not run DHCP servers.
Is it okay to use unencrypted protocols (http, telnet, smtp, pop3, imap, irc et al) on the congress network?
While you certainly can use those protocols, expect others to see everything you transmit (including usernames, passwords, your email, your dirty talk with your partner) and make appropriate fun of you.
You are advised to use either the secure counterparts to those protocols (https, ssh, pop3s, imaps et al) or create an encrypted VPN tunnel to the outside world if you really want to use insecure protocols. There is a HowTo on doing this with OpenSSH available in English.
Also note that simply using Tor to encrypt your insecure protocols is an even worse idea. The exit node of your Tor connection can read everything you transmit in the clear. Including everything mentioned above. Also, the Tor exit node may happen to be within the congress network again and you'll have the same problem as before.
Secure Messengers
Which messengers use secure logins? Can i use for example Skype or Jabber without giving someone the chance to sniff my password?
Jabber is secure when using SSL (you usually can check this in your client). Skype is a somewhat obfuscated, not easy to sniff, protocol. This is most likely security by obscurity, you have to decide whether you think that nobody has tools to decrypt skype messages or whether you want it really secure (e.g. use a different protocol and SSL). In general, you can test this at home using a tool like tcpdump (on Linux/BSD/OS X, start it with tcpdump -A -s 2048) or Wireshark (former Ethereal) on Windows -- if you see your password/username in plaintext, everyone could.
Is my iPhone secure at 26c3?
How can I setup my laptop to tunnel all network traffic through SSH?
The "How to Survive"-article doesn't cover this yet. So far I just found hints on tunneling a single port. Some good hints anyone? try portforwarding via iptables, or give Secure Network Forwarding Tunnel a try. maybe there are better solutions.
-> You can twist ssh to act like a SOCKS-Proxy, see below. HowTo on doing this with OpenSSH
The HowTo above requires OpenSSH 4.3 - if you don't want to or can't upgrade (which btw. is a bad idea)… here's a workaround/nice trick for older SSH-versions:
- Install pppd on your server & client
- Enable IP-Forwarding and NAT/Masquerading on the machine your SSH-Server is running on. (in Linux, as root)
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s 10.0.0.2 -j MASQUERADE
- On your client add a dedicated route to your SSH-Server via your default gw: (in Linux, as root)
route add InsertYourSshServerAddressHere gw `route -n | grep -E '^0.0.0.0' | awk '{ print($2) }'`
- run pppd-over-ssh (one line, in Linux, as root)
pppd nodetach noauth defaultroute replacedefaultroute pty "ssh root@InsertYourSshServerAddressHere pppd updetach noauth passive notty 10.0.0.1:10.0.0.2"
Authenticate using password or better using keys.
Have a lot of fun! :) Do you want a clean solution? Setup openvpn - oder openssh 4.3, of course.
Use ssh as an secure network tunnel
You can use ssh to act like a SOCKS-Proxy. Setting up an ssh SOCKS-Proxy is very easy. Just type in
ssh -fND 4223 user@server
where user@server is your login at the server you want to use as the tunneling endpoint. The command establishes a connection to your server, logs in as "user" and starts a little SOCKS-Proxy on it. The -f command tells ssh to go into the background so you can continue working at the terminal. On your computer, all connections to port 4223 will be forwarded over the secure SSH channel and then by the proxy to the destination. You have to configure the program you want to connect through that tunnel to use localhost:4223 as it's SOCKS server. (Like Firefox' proxy-configuration.) For using software that doesn't support SOCKS try out tsocks.
Will Peg-DHCP also be available in the wired LAN ?
Proceedings/Documentation
Are there guidelines concerning videotaping/taking pictures at 26C3?
Of course, yes. But same rules apply for private videotaping and pictures as for the press.
See Press#Guidelines
Participating
Who should I contact if I want to become a Chaos Angel?
You can register yourself at the Engelsystem.
See the Angel FAQ for further information.
Accomodation
Will there be a Gym for sleeping at again this year? How much will the fee be?
Yes. 5 Euro a night per individual person.
Where to buy?
Cashdesk at the BCC. No sale at the door!
See for more info:The Gym.
What do I have to bring when sleeping in the Gym?
- Sleepingbag
- matress
- flipflops
- pair of earplugs ;-)
Will there be a place to deposit luggage (such as lockers) ?
We have the Cloakroom where you can deposit your luggage for which we cannot assume liability. Real lockers are in the nearby train station ("Alexanderplatz").
Can I camp outside of the conference center again this year?
Depends on the definition of outside, but if you mean around the BCC the answer is no.
Food
Where to buy Mate for a normal price except for metro?
If you are german: Look at the Club-Mate forum and search for your town or ask for places near to you. There is also a nice list about Berlin Mate-stores. http://www.iphpbb.com/board/index.php?nxu=77421311nx15157
Will you be allowed to bring your own food into the Congress-Center?
Rule of thumb: Feel free to bring the cookies your Grandma baked - but never order pizza (or things like that) into the bcc.
The reason is that there is a company called "Progast" which holds the exclusive right to sell food inside the bcc. This is a standard arrangement for this kind of event which is not subject to discussion. It allows for moderate food prices and helps to avoid the incredible amount of waste which many people found quite discomforting at previous congresses.
With this in mind, please remember to treat Progast employees respectfully! In case you experience (rather rare) problems which cannot be resolved immediately.
The Phone Operation Center
What DECT phone should bring or buy ?
See the DECT Phone Compatibility List
Where can I find the POC ?
There are located at level C.
Special Phone numbers
| Number | Feature |
|---|---|
| 2088 | Labyrinth |
| 8666 | Adult Services |
| 8330 | ERNA |
| 2089 | Maze |
| 8463 | Time |
| 2087 | Menschenrechte |
| 2086 | Beichte? |
| 2085 | fortune Cookie |
| 4246 | Hacker Hotline |
Tickets
See also Tickets
CCC-Member Discount: How do we proof our membership
Does "cash desk" mean that we have to pay cash? What about ec-cards or credit-cards?
Yes there is no way to pay with cards. There is a bank about 100 meters from the BCC where they accept a wide range of credit- and debit-cards.
When should I get my tickets?
It is a good idea to buy the ticket at Dec 26th or the night from Dec 26th to 27th, because then you don't have to wait in the line for hours in the morning of Dec 27th.
Can I buy my tickets in the night from Dec 26th to 27th all night long?
Yes. The cash desk is open from late afternoon (around 6pm / 18:00) at the 26th until the evening of the 30th.
Can I buy additional tickets for my friends?
No. The tickets are wristbands and are crimped to your arm when you buy them.
Will the "tickets" actually be tickets this year rather than scratchy wristbands that can't be removed outside the building?
No
Does the entry fee include "disabled camera surveillance" like last year?
Yes, it does.
Pupils Ticket
I'm a pupil, though I don't have a pupil identity card. How else can I prove at the entrance, that I'm a pupil? Can I just take my last year's report card?
No. And we don't have the time for discussion at the cash desk. There are more participants behind you, who have to wait while you try to convince the cash desk angels.
It's not our fault that you missed to update your school ID card.
But a "Schulbescheinigung" still works?
A Schulbescheinigung is a simple printout of your school record which (bears the school seal and) states that you were a student at a specific school at the time the document was printed. It can be faked relatively easily and is not intended to replace the pupil ID (which also carries your photo and has a validity timeframe). Anyway, what's the point? A pupil ID is usually issued within one day, just about as quickly as a Schulbescheinigung. Why would you carry a Schulbescheinigung but not a pupil ID? You have read the rule. If you do not have a pupil ID, prepare to pay the full price.
My school doesn't issue pupil IDs. What shall I do?
I'm pretty sure they _have to_, at least in Germany. (http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/sen-bildung/rechtsvorschriften/av_schuelerausweise.pdf 1.1)
If they don't, tell them where you're heading and ask them for a confirmation (or similar) of your enrollment in school and pray the cashdesk will accept this or contact an arch angel.
What's the difference between a "student" and a "pupil?" I am attending a university in the US full time and want to know if I am eligible for the discount. If so, what documentation is acceptable? Is my school-issued ID enough?
Think "pupils" as people attending a K-12 school (up to and including highschool). People attending a university are called "Studenten", so you will have to pay the full price like many other people coming to the congress. :-) (Only pupils, who are still going to school, will get a discount)
Is there also a discount on the tickets for Students?
Students have to pay the usual entrance fee. The CCC grants discounts for some special supportworthy groups: Pupils (with credentials) and CCC members, as a thank for their support all the year around. You can become a CCC member now or at the 26C3.
What about the unemployed?
The last years left us with hackers becoming entrepreneurs getting rich in thriving web2.0 businesses while others, doing exciting stuff as well, have a hard time making ends meet. Today you don't necessarily have to be unemployed to find yourself in a situation where you really need to reconsider attending the congress.
We realise that this is a problem, and – as outlined in our blog post (german) – we provide a contingent of subsidized tickets. Everyone can send an email to 26c3-friends (at) cccv.de and suggest a fellow hacker in need. Of course, you can also apply for a friends-ticket yourself.
Provide us with an overview that'll help us understanding the special circumstances and a contact address and we will see how we can help.
What about those Presale Tickets?
You might have heard rumors about "secret presales". What's going on there? Let us explain.
As you might have noticed last year, the venue was packed. We were full. Another 100 people, and we would have had to turn down people at the door. This might just happen again this year. Now, as you know, Congress is being run by a whole lot of volunteers, who actually all buy tickets, too. So in order to make sure we get all those people in, we distributed a limited number of tickets internally in advance.
The majority of tickets (at least 2400 full passes, to be precise, plus day passes depending on demand and fullness) will be sold at the door.
We realise this is not perfect. We would like to accomodate everybody, and we would like to treat everybody equally. But the bcc building, much to our regret, is not bigger on the inside. We hope that Dragons Everywhere will help to spread the load, and that we will continue to be able to host everybody who shows up.
When will be able to get our Presale Tickets?
The mails with the tickets are sent. If you didn't get yours please contact 26c3-orga@cccv.de.
Looking 4 Friends?
Have a look at our Dating Site ;-)