26C3: Here be dragons (2009) on CCC Event Blog

Last chance to get your pre-ordered (and paid) Congress wear

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:01:43 +0000

During 29C3 pre-order season we saw over a thousand people buying shirts and hoodies online. But not everyone picked up their stuff during Congress, that’s why we have around hundred pieces of cloth that belongs to one of you.

But we would love to see you proudly walking around in our Congress cloth and not have them rot away in our backyard. So please, check your inbox for preorder-receipts you have not redeemed yet and come and get your stuff.

There will be an hand-out event on Saturday, February, 23th in CCCB around 4pm in Berlin [1]. If you cannot make it there, please send an email to 29c3-presale@cccv.de, and we will try to arrange something.

Your 29C3 merchandize crew

[1] CCCB, Marienstraße 11, 10117 Berlin. mail@berlin.ccc.de

26c3 Backstage

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:56:43 +0000

26c3 is over. Go see what you missed – it’s all there. During the last hours I went to see what the people behind the stages thought of this year’s congress.

A group that is hardly noticed by the general public is the kitchen crew: they prepare food for some 350 ‘Angels’, approx. 10% of all participants. ‘Angels’ are the helpers of the CCC events. They still have to pay for their ticket like everyone else and trade their work for food and a conference t-shirt. When asked what their goal was the kitchen crew said: we make the angels happy! And they believe that they succeeded by about 80%. Mostly this is done by preparing sandwiches – cooked food is prepared only for putting everything up and taking things down. Next year the kitchen crew would rather not share a room with the press group, they said, because it’s hard to reduce preparing food to non-interview times. While everyone in CCC says there really in favor of having the congress at the bcc also most everyone complained about space really being a problem…

Next to kitchen and press in the back of the ground floor is C.E.R.T., the Chaos Emergency Response Team. They, too, are satisfied with the general health and fire emergency situation, no serious injuries at the congress and one or the other burning ash trays, that was it. Most common problem are people who don’t sleep, don’t drink enough water and eventually start not feeling well at all. CERT also are the people who make sure that the aisles are kept free when talks are happening and seem quite confident about this role. But “We’re not genuinely evil – there’s reasons!”. Their wish for 2010: more showers. Both for others who get smelly after a while and for the CERT team members who don’t really get to go home:

“This year everyone was peaceful and cooperative and also they didn’t blow anything up.”

Across the hall is the speaker’s room where speakers can relax, leave their stuff and find all kinds of technical assistance. I’ve greatly admired the speaker’s room team for keeping perfectly calm in any kind of situation before. Also for them this year has been easy – no serious trouble except for one talk on day four that had to be cancelled because someone pulled the power plug from a old IBM machine that needs two hours to boot. They were happy to have had a sofa for the first time, about the friendly speakers and would appreciate less problems concerning ticket sales: sometimes speakers bring people who like to see that specific talk and then can’t get in – unpleasant for everyone involved.

Also widely unnoticed is the radio group, hidden behind the stairs of the top floor. Their recorded interviews are broadcast by different independent radios across Germany.

Much more visible is the Phone Operation Center, or POC. They run both a DECT phone network and – for the first time – a GSM (mobile phone) network, made just for the conference. Anyone who registers either their cordless or mobile phone can make calls to other registered conference participants free of charge. Numbers can be pre-registered at eventphone.de and there’s even a phone book. This year approx. 900 DECT phones were registered plus some 500 GSM phones. To the POC team it felt as if less people attended the congress – maybe due to less tickets that were sold? (This was contradicted in the closing event when an announcement was made that this was the biggest congress ever). They didn’t have the impression that the fact that both DECT and GSM phones can be listend in to had an influence during the last four days. The option that phones can be tapped isn’t all new. The phone people, generally 5 – 10 at the different CCC events, always come early because DECT phones are needed already to set everything up: These phones that are used for general organisational purposes, have four digit numbers starting with a 1, while everybody else gets numbers from 2000 on upwards. It is also possible to register EPVPN numbers that can be taken home to be used via Voice IP. All in all the POC crew was happy and has no wishes left to fulfill.

There’s many more people who work behind the scenes – couldn’t talk to them all, but there’s always a next congress. See you at SIGINT in May..

By Anne Roth, who was guest-blogging for the CCC

Last Minute 26c3 Schedule Change

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:43:57 +0000

Christian Eichelmann from the Wolpertinger project will be speaking in Saal 3 starting at 11:30.

It is a distributed portscanner, which actually doesn’t do anything else than scan (tcp-)ports. But it is fast. Really fast. So fast you can scan Class-B networks before you have to retire. And it is available from here. The output lands in a database (SQLite) you can do with that what you want. It runs on linux and is open source.

The IBM AS/400 Talk in Saal 3 has been cancelled. There are no other reported schedule changes, but be sure to check back here on events.ccc.de, follow @26c3 and @chaosupdates on Twitter.

The CCCs retrospect for 2009

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:38:46 +0000

The first talk in the big hall on day three of 26c3 was the CCC’s retrospect of the year 2009. Due to my slow coffeemaker and hungry kids I missed the months of January and February (please add), and start recounting in March:

New CCC members

Two new

Erfa groups (local groups) were started, in Aachen and Mannheim. The map shows regional concentration of CCC hackers plus the number of new members per year. Starting 1997 approx. 100 new members joined “the club” each year.

Next an unpleasant experience of a CCC member was told who had his house searched and all tech equipment confiscated. Law enforcement had believed that who owns a domain (of a bit torrent site in this case) also has the respective hardware at home. It proved that all concerned law enforcers had no idea of what was going on and used their ignorance to keep all things taken in the raid until this December. Only through legal protection covered by the CCC it was given back in the end. Unfortunately German law doesn’t provide for relevant recompensation in such cases while in contrast it is quite easy to get a judge to sign a search warrant.

Constanze Kurz

According to Constanze Kurz this practice violates the newly established

fundamental right to digital privacy. The vast majority of cases are based on issues of copyright and drugs. Frank Rieger added that we urgently need to push for regulations for the handling of confiscated computers and technical devices. For the time being it’s difficult to even understand where they are and what is done to them and by whom.

In April some 400 people joined a demonstration against censorship. SIGINT, the CCC conference that focuses on politics and society more than the congress in December, took place in Cologne for the first time. The conference was generally perceived as a successful event included a workshop that was especially worth mentioning. Members of different political parties in Germany explained their views: to make a difference it’s not enough to get through with the point that something is factually wrong. It needs to be perceived as wrong by the public to make politicians move. The next SIGINT will again discuss politics in May in Cologne.

Frank Rieger

Next in line was the constitutional complaint against what is called the “hacker law”. This complaint was not accepted by the constitutional court. The long reasoning of the court is worthwhile reading nonetheless: it explains why it is wrong that already the possession of software that is considered to be hacker tools is illegal.

The CCC clearly is becoming of interest more when the press is seeking information of quotes: there were 1504 inquiries by the media, more than ever before. Germany’s social democrat party apparently has a rather peculiar understanding of confidential talks: during last year’s voting campaign not a lot of support was gathered by the party when it announced its stance pro internet censorship. As a result the CCC was invited to a meeting to discuss both this issue as well as online campaigning. Even though the party had originally asked to keep quiet about the meeting a press release was issued right after. Martin Dörmann, new speaker for new media issues of the SPD group in federal parliament since the former speaker was forced to resign after shady accusations that he possessed child pornography, was quoted. He said in the meeting: “Nobody is planning to erect a censorship infrastructure!”. Apparently without realising the strong resemblance to a historical quote by Walter Ulbricht less than two months before the Berlin wall was built: “Nobody has the intention to erect a wall”.

In June the CCC submitted its statement (pdf, German) on data retention to the constitutional court.

Also in June the local CCC in Mannheim set up a wireless connection that covered 50 km: another reason to point out the extraordinarily creative activities of the local groups. The concept of “geekends” was revived: one ERFA group invites another for a weekend, travel cost covered by the CCC.

In July the CCC apparently pleased itself enormously by discussing a new set of formal club rules which resulted in some members wondering whether it was a good decision to become a formal German Verein rather than a terrorist organisation, the other option. They then rewarded themselves with a new website that is a great step forward to user friendly content management which was implemented later. It does include WYSIWYG (contrary to this blog’s software, if I might add that). A wordle done using CCC website content showed that there is potential for improving language.

In August the hacker summer camp Hackers at Random (HAR) saw great parties and light installations by the CCC in the Netherlands. In September, due to the elections coming up, a panel discussion had the minister of justice, Brigitte Zypries, discussing technical details she’d better not discuss in public. A source of joy for many hackers present.

Martin Haase

Also in September the huge demonstration “Freedom not Fear” was organised to protest against increasing surveillance and violation of privacy. During the demonstration several incidents of unexpected police violence happened. Only because activists had video recordings was it possible to raise public attention for this. The CCC published critical video material and asked for clear identification of police in Berlin in a

press release.

The CCC won a legal battle against the company producing the optical scan voting system meant to be used in Hamburg. The company hat attempted to stop the CCC from publicly claiming to have found technical flaws of the system. The decision by a court in Hamm favored the CCCs point of view in almost all points.

Andy Müller-Maguhn

Haefft.de, a school children’s web community, went

offline after having been informed of security problems in December. The constitutional court’s hearing on data retention received wide public attention and especially so the CCC’s statement. The event was transmitted to the public by using Twitter. This is not tolerated by the court but in this case so far no legal action was taken. The decision on data retention is expected for spring of 2010.

By Anne Roth, guest-blogging for the CCC

Fourth Day

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:41:21 +0000

Dear fellow hackers,

as you may have noticed, the situation at the cashier decks is very confusing. We’re trying to allow as many hackers to attend 26C3 and do so in a way that’s as fair as possible. Still we’re bound to the actual physical capacity of the bcc building and were forced to send away participants.

Some of you have had a very unsatisfying experience due to this so we’ll try to compensate – at least financially – by the following measure: Out of the 300 daily tickets for Wednesday, available on a first-come-first-serve-basis from 8 am on, we will give out a free and non-transferable one to everyone showing up with at least one day pass (wristband for day 1 – 3) still attached to his arm. All others still can buy a regular day pass for day four.

Little big Dragons

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:00:29 +0000

Day 2 of the Congress is in full course, tickets are completely sold out and next to the talk in the three big halls many other activities can be found in halls and workshop rooms. Several Blogs have entries about what happened so far: http://futur3.com/ with a summary of Day 1, jtb.blog with already several articles (in German) and Fruto del Caos (Spanish). Please add your blogs to the blog page so it can be part of the aggregated conference news feed!

Update: more reports are popping up in blogs. Since most people publish more than one article, I’ll just name the blogs that have the details (please add more in the comments): Qbi, Open Data Network, Netzpolitik, Brainweich, Manu bloggt, Testgebiet Unintended Purpose, Adrians Blog. More 26c3 feeds are at http://26c3.screamorap.org/. A video of a singing Tesla coil can be seen at Evil Daystar! “Verkabelt” have published their views on the first day as an audio podcast (in German).

The talks in the big halls are drawing a lot of attention, but many exciting things are taking place also in the basement and in workshop rooms. The Congress Radio is recording interviews. Several phone options are set up specifically for the four days: the Phone Operating Centre is running a mobile DECT system and phone infrastructure. In addition, there is a cellular phone network, set up and operated including the necessary license to make phone calls within the 26c3 mobile and DECT networks. Find the mobile phone operators in Room C04 if you have questions.

Many workshops offer topics such as Podcasting Developer Workshop, Meditation for hackers or Haecksen breakfast (the women’s network within the CCC). Projects meet and present their work, in addition during the Lightning Talks new ideas and projects have four minutes to give an overview of what they’re doing and – more important – what kind of support they’re looking for.

By Anne Roth, guest-blogging for CCC

No more day tickets for 26C3 Day 2

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:03:10 +0000

As you may have already heard, the 26C3 is sold out. There are no more all-day tickets available, and we have just sold out of day tickets for today (Day 2).

Day tickets for Day 3 will go on sale tomorrow morning at 08:00.

If you do not have a ticket, check out the live streams of the talks, or attend one of the many Dragons Everywhere gatherings being held all over the world!

Feedback System

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:06:47 +0000

We have activated our feedback system. So if you have attended a lecture, please look it up in the schedule (Fahrplan) and rate it. Your feedback is most helpful in determining what you like and what you don’t. It will help our speakers and the next program planning team to come up with an even more fascinating program. Thank you very much!

If you don’t like politics, at least work on the software!

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:05:06 +0000

Frank Rieger holding the keynote talk

Frank Rieger's keynote talk started off Europe’s biggest hacker conference today. Already before the first talk the conference is sold out and the big conference hall of Berlin’s

bcc – Berliner Congress Center was packed with people during the talk. Many watched online via stream (when it was available). For the time being both streaming and connectivity in general are suffering from too many users.

Frank Rieger gave a general overview of achievements by and future challenges for the hacker community: technology is perpetrating our lives more and more and it’s up to us to draw the lines between what is useful development and what needs to be restricted. He said “To rationalise dealing with human beings is evil”. Ending up with a phone bot when trying to get through to a Paypal hotline is degrading, to say the least. Dangers of ever increasing surveillance can’t be tolerated by pointing out a vague interpretation of “freedom”.

It’s time to roll back “all this shit”. We need to come up with radical demands: it’s not that citizens exist for the state, but instead the state exists for its citizens, or rather, the state is the citizens. Data collected by the state need to be publicly available with very few exceptions. One demand could be that both state authorities and companies need to be compelled to tell us about all existing data about us once a year. Including what happened to them.

“We want a foundation watching over issues of data protection just like the consumer protection agencies that already exist” (in Germany), he went on . This institution should e.g. compare and publish data protection measures by companies and suggest the best ones. At the same time we need an independent institution governing issues of security and information technology. The existing German BSI is more and more turning into a surveillance authority.

Another issue touched in the keynote were models for income generation for artists and authors in times of uncontrollable file sharing that will never be rolled back. “It has to be possible to make a living by working in arts and culture. On the other hand there is no fundamental right to being rich”, he addressed the music industry.

Legal battles make sense but don’t solve problems in themselves. It’s necessary to make sure after a pro-privacy decision e.g. by the constitutional court that police carrying out searches are aware of what’s legal.

Next was his urgent appeal to the hacker community: “Even if you are sick of politics: at least help to improve the software!” Anonymity is one of the most interesting issues of the time – politically just as technically. It’s up to us to be up to date and to not accept the flaws in the software we’re using. Also – and this is one of our biggest advantages – we getting better at creating publicity and using technological tools to do so. Hackerspaces are the best thing that happened to us in the past years: we can do this together, not everyone for him- or herself.

(At this time the stream broke off for me and I’m hoping for complementation via the comments)

By Anne Roth, guest-blogging for the CCC

A film by Alexander Biedermann: Hacker

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:17:58 +0000

On the third day of the Congress at 3 pm, Berlin cinema Babylon (Berlin-Mitte, Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 30) will air the film “Hacker”. This documentary film sheds light on the modern myth of the hacker and the very active and not at all hidden German hacker scene. Shot between December 2008 and February 2009 in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Tokyo and Frankfurt, some of the founding fathers of the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) are portrayed.

Director Alexander Biedermann will be in the cinema as well as some of the protagonists of the film. An unique journey to the world of hackers exclusively for guests of the Chaos Communication Congress. Call +49 – (0)30 – 24 25 969 for ticket reservation.

By the way, there are English subtitles. :}

26C3 Dec26 Dinner

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:22:15 +0000

Let’s meet before congress starts and get to know each other – and have a chat about the things to come at this year’s congress!

time
We will meet from 19h to 23:42h at the cafe/restaurant “Lichtblick”.

location
the cafe is right at the U9-Birkenstrasse station at the north-west side of the intersection of Birkenstrasse and Wilhelmshavener Strasse:
“Lichtblick”
Birkenstr 33, 10551 Berlin (Moabit)

register
there is room for max 30/40 people, so please register yourself here: http://doodle.com/svn6vbf8ieng6k9t

food
let us know about your kind of food, ie whether you are a carnivore, a vegetarian or a vegan, so we can ask the kitchen for appropriate food – thanks! however, the restaurant offers quite a range of food: Menu.

ticket
after the meetup you might want to go back to the BCC to get your ticket. take U9 north to Osloer Street (6mins) and south on the U8 until Alexanderplatz (9mins). (incidentally, by car it takes 15mins, too. see http://tinyurl.com/lichtblick-to-bcc)

questions?
send email at 26C3@guckes.net
or text me at +49-179-3966141!

Sven

Hand in your submissions for 26C3!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:51:24 +0000

Dragon-slayers and map makers of the digital world! We need your input and we need it now!

October 9th, 2009 (Midnight UTC) marks the deadline for your submission of talks and workshops for the 26th Chaos Communication Congress.

This year, the motto is “Here Be Dragons“.

Rush, run, don’t walk to our submission overview and hand in the talk that will change the world of hackerdom as we know it. Or at least give us something interesting to offer to our fine audience at the European Hacker Conference with thousands of hackers, scientists, artists, and utopists from all around the world participating.

Submission guidelines
Submission due: October 9th, 2009 (Midnight UTC)
Paper submission system