Bits, Bytes and Beers at Defcon

The annual underground party for hackers is known as much for its technical content as its hijinks. Declan McCullagh presents a photographic look at this year's Defcon convention.
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Underground book seller Loompanics Unlimited in Defcon's vendor area.Declan McCullagh
Declan McCullagh
Declan McCullagh
Declan McCullagh
Declan McCullagh
Declan McCullagh
Declan McCullagh
Declan McCullagh

LAS VEGAS -- Each year, thousands of hackers, would-be hackers, consultants and federal agents gather at the Defcon hacker convention in Las Vegas.

Conference organizers call it the "annual computer underground party for hackers," and Defcon is known as much for its technical content as its beer-tinged hijinks. Pranks like smoke bombs in hotel pools, portions of telephone trucks mysteriously appearing in the convention hall, and concrete dumped in toilets have earned Defcon a reputation as a kind of annual hacker bacchanalia.

Click through the photos above from this year's festivities, which began last Friday and ended on Sunday.