The Cowtown Computer Congress

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

The elevator to get into the space is currently being upgraded. It will be out of commission for the next few days. I heard from our photography-loving cave neighbor that it should be back up and running by Tuesday. For the time being, however, getting to the space will be trickier than usual.

We got permission from Dean Realty (and from our neighbor) to use some of the spaces underground until the elevator is fixed, but ONLY AFTER 5:00 PM (and I suppose into the wee hours of the morning). Having said that, I don’t know for certain when the gate closes. I do know it won’t lock you in. It opens automatically as you leave.

You will likely have to park topside and walk a block or so to the cave entry to get access during the day, as we are not allowed to use the paid-for parking spaces (read: any below ground) during business hours.

Thanks go to Asmodian X for putting some drive into putting some order into the chaos that is the workshop area. Knowing him, he likely put in quite a bit of the actual labor as well. The new layout works nicely. I had to use the drill press today and I like having the workbenches in an island configuration like this.  The addition of storage bins is also a big plus.

Also, I brought in a couple of much-needed bottle openers. Maybe now we can stop using the edge of the counter, screwdrivers, and other brute-force bottle-opening methods.

In this multi-part Cyber-Security learning series we will take on the role of Kevin Linus, an aspiring sysadmin who wants to “break into” the field of cyber-security.  Learning by doing, we will implement tools and techniques used by “BlackHat Hackers” in order to bypass defenses and obtain unauthorized access to systems. By gaining these skills and techniques, you will gain incredible insight on how to protect your company’s network from them.

For the first part of the series, we will be discussing network and host discovery, and take it one step further with some host enumeration.  This is a “hands-on” exercise and all participants should come prepared with some type of computer (laptop preferred).  Also, please bring a burned copy of BackTrack 4.0 LiveDVD (DVD, Thumbdrive, or preinstalled) with you.  We will be using tools such as nmap and kismet.   (Although BackTrack 4 is not required, it is preferred.  Due to time constraints I will not hold the class for tool installation)

This first session might be review for you, but who knows you might pick up some new tricks!  (Warning nmap Kung-fu will be discussed!)

This entire training series is free to ALL CCCKC Members, and open to the community for a (suggested) $10 per session donation.  This training event (entire series) will build on itself covering subjects and techniques comparable to $4000 “security vendor” event.

Future seats will be limited, so make sure you come out to the April 30th event!

Greetings! My name is Angji aka dicegrrl. I am the newly elected Archivist/Keeper of the Lore for CCCKC. Please bear with me as I feel my way around and figure this out.

A little bit about me for those of whom are interested. I am a busy gal with 3 jobs at the moment. My main job is as a Rural Carrier for the USPS in Peculiar, MO. Some people seem to think that makes me a Fed. But really I’m just this girl, you know? I also groom dogs with my mother as my second job. My final job is being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. This is more a hobby than a job at the moment but I would love for it to become a full time gig.

I am not a hacker or technology geek. I am a wanna be bibliophile and papercraft geek. I love making greeting cards for our troops overseas. They then take my cards, write a message inside and send them home to their loved ones. This is very important to me and I feel it is the least I can do for our soldiers.

Why did I join CCCKC?

I joined because I love learning. I like being around hackers and geeks. I love the think/question/hack/make mindset that comes with being a hacker. I am excited about being here because it is out of my comfort zone and no growth is achieved unless you leave your cave.

How did I hear about CCCKC?

My brother is a member and mentioned it to me one night at dinner. After he described the goals of the group, I got a tingling feeling and decided then and there that I wanted to be a part of this group.

What is a hackerspace to you?

It is not only a place to work on your technology projects but also a place to share ideas and become inspired. I do not have any technology projects at the moment but every time I leave the cave I take with me a desire to create. Anything. I find it a great place to mingle and meet people whom I never would have met before. I have already learned quite a bit just by being at the cave and listening to what is being discussed. Every visit I get to know different members better and I always walk away enriched by it.

What are your current goals for yourself or the hackerspace?

My current goal is to learn and absorb as much as I can so I’m not constantly asking “What’s this” to the other members. I’m very excited about the current motion to adopt a local charity. Sharing of our skills and time is a great way to give back to the community. As the Archivist, my goal is to record our progress as a group and as individuals. I am going to do my part by bringing non-tech people to the group by having  papercraft classes and talks. My second goal as Archivist is to maintain our blog and hopefully motivate other people to come down and see what we are about.

See you at the cave!

~Angji

hevnsnt & Surbo (from i-hacked) will be joining the PaulDotCom.com guys for their weekly security podcast TONIGHT 4/2/2009.  Please join us while we discuss some of the more interesting past articles, and who knows maybe we will give some insight in some upcoming projects!

hevnsnt is the VP of Operations for the CCCKC and Surbo is a charter member.  They have both been warned of the flogging they will receive if they dont mention the CCCKC and poke fun at PS:One.

You can join in on the IRC channel during the stream – on irc.freenode.net #pauldotcom.

When active, the live stream(s) can be found at:

Ustream: PaulDotCom UStream Channel

Icecast: PaulDotCom Radio

All CCCKC can pick up their black badges this afternoon

We have been talking a lot about member benefits. Of course members have 24/7 access to the Underground Lab and will soon be enjoying reciprocity with Pumping Station:One but we’ve been holding off on announcing some others. Hevnsnt has been pushing for people to become charter members for some time, and there was some concern that we didn’t have enough badges to cover everyone but luckily we do.

For those that don’t know, anyone in physical possession of a black badge has free admission to DEFCON for life. It’s like a bearer bond, so don’t lose this thing after you pick it up.

I personally dropped off the bin of badges in the Lab this morning.

Special thanks to Priest, Noid and of course Grifter for helping make this all happen.