The Defcon Badge: Sleek, Stylish and Hackable
Here's a first look at the Defcon 18 badge, set to be unveiled Thursday at the annual hacker conference in Las Vegas.

Badge of Honor
It's unlike any conference badge you've ever seen before--sleek, stylish, programmable, and made out of metal. It's the Defcon 18 conference badge, set to be unveiled Thursday at the annual hacker conference in Las Vegas. Here's a first look at this year's badge.
Image Credit: Joe Grand
Waiting to Be Hacked
More than a fanzy gizmo, the defcon badge is a powerful computing device, just waiting to be hacked. This is the fifth year that Joe Grand has designed an electronic badge for the event. Pictured here is a coveted black "Uber" badge, reserved for winners of the annual Defcon badge-hacking contest. Its owner gets free Defcon admission for life.
Image Credit: Joe Grand
Magnificent Seven
There are seven different versions of the badge: Uber, human (for attendees), vendor, speaker, contest (organizers), goon (show staff), and press. Each badge costs about $14 to make -- that's a pretty high-flying badge, when you consider that Defcon admission is just $140.
Image Credit: Joe Grand
Lithographed Aluminum
Instead of the fiberglass boards typically used by most circuit-boards, this year's badges are made of a sleek lithographed aluminum.
Image Credit: Robert McMillan
Low-Power Display
The "piece de resistance," Grand says, is the low-power 128 by 32 pixel blue-and-white display. Built by Ohio's Kent Displays this cholesteric liquid crystal screen retains the image even without power. But you can wipe it out with your finger.
Image Credit: Robert McMillan
USB Port
To make hacking easier, this year's model comes with a USB port. Just plug it into your laptop and start hacking.
Image Credit: Joe Grand
Grand Atelier
Joe Grand holds a prototype of the badge in his San Francisco workshop, pictured in May.
Image Credit: Robert McMillan
The Lineup
All seven badges set side by side form a conference montage.
Image Credit: Joe Grand
Artistic Inspiration
Neil Kronenberg's original drawing, used for the badge art this year. Kronenberg does the Web site and conference material illustrations for Defcon too.
Image Credit: Neil Kronenberg
Today's Best Tech Deals
Picked by PCWorld's Editors
Coupon Codes
-
Target Promo Code
Up to 25% off sitewide - Target coupon
-
eBay Coupon
$10 eBay coupon for invited users
-
Overstock Coupon
Save $50 on your order of $600 with Overstock promo code
-
JCPenney coupon
JCPenney promo code: Additional 25% off everything
-
Sam's Club Coupon
Sam's Club promo - 40% off 1-year membership
-
iRobot Coupon
Get free shipping on all orders at iRobot