Kiwicon, Fin

So there is an important rule at Kiwicon. It's not by any means a unique rule but it's one that is used at Kiwicon as well: What goes on at Kiwicon, stays at Kiwicon.

That said, as I lie here in my hostel bed, attempting to recover from an almighty hangover, I can share some of my experiences.

Every year Metlstorm heads what is a rising bar of awesome, set by the previous Kiwicon - and this year was no exception. First it was lasers, then Pyro, then.. well that would be spoilers. The opening ceremony both days were an extravaganza generally found at concerts rather than technical symposiums on the current state of cyber security.

Fricking Lasers.

The second day opening, not to be outdone by the first day, featured a choreographed dance where Katie Moussouris (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmoussouris), whose credentials are literally too long to write, descended from the roof on a ring and revealed that her talents include an amazing singing voice.

As usual there were some amazing talks at Kiwicon. Honestly the bling, entertainment and comedy is only exceeded by its quality of content. As arduous as the 26 hours of flying back to NZ were, it really was worth it. 

I once again honed by handcuf picking skills, this time exceeding my previous personal best - getting myself out of backwards double locked behind my back (the cuffs had the secondary pin pushed through requiring moving the pin one way and then picking it the regular way ("double locked") whilst my arms and cuffs were behind my back, and the cuffs keyholes were facing up my arm ("backwards"). For some there, including some total beginners, it's not hard, but for me it was a personal best.

I also went on to thumb cuffs, then thumb cuffs facing the wrong way (hard to explain why that isn't easy) and finally thumb cuffs behind the back (so that took awhile).

Anyway, enough about my lack of picking skills -

If you've never been to a Kiwicon, and you're in anyway working or just interested in the technical security field, you really are doing yourself a disservice by not attending. Alas, you have to wait for next year now.

Kiwicon

An addition to my Big Trip has been Kiwicon. Not a new thing by any means, I've gone many years, but it's squeezed in between Ireland and the Round-The-World, so I've put it as part of the Big Trip.

Kiwicon is an international even with a particularly kiwi flavour. Retro old school computing is the general theme, but the spefic theme changes each year. This year it's army (think MASH mixed with 1980s movie Wargames)

The conference is the NZ smaller version of Defcon. That said - it doesn't lack for quality or quantity with an international line up of speakers and a cyber expeditionary force of over 1400 troops (attendees).

Kiwicon now falls at the end of what is rapidly becoming NZ's security week, with a large number of security events scheduled (regrettably) during the same week.