Hackers Install a Literal Antivirus at Security Conference
▼ Summary
– Kawaiicon, New Zealand’s premier hacker conference, implemented a real-time carbon dioxide monitoring system to prevent “con crud” illness among attendees.
– Organizers installed DIY CO2 monitors throughout the Michael Fowler Centre venue before the conference opened on November 6.
– Attendees could check a public online dashboard for clean air readings in various areas like session rooms and kids’ areas before arriving.
– Jeff Moss, founder of Defcon and Black Hat, praised the initiative as fantastic and noted CO2 is used as an approximation for many factors.
– He highlighted that Kawaiicon’s solution embodies the true spirit of hacking by addressing the lack of easy, inexpensive network monitoring options.
To combat the common issue of post-conference illness, organizers at Kawaiicon, New Zealand’s leading hacker event, implemented a creative solution by installing a live carbon dioxide monitoring network throughout their venue. This system allowed participants to check air quality in various zones via an online dashboard before even stepping inside, effectively creating a real-time environmental antivirus for the gathering.
Before the conference opened its doors on November 6, the team set up do-it-yourself CO₂ sensors across the Michael Fowler Centre. These devices continuously tracked air quality in key areas such as session rooms, children’s spaces, and the reception desk. Attendees could view up-to-the-minute data on a public website, enabling them to make informed decisions about which spaces to enter. On their official site, the organizers noted, “It’s ALMOST like we are all nerds in a risk-based industry,” highlighting the community’s proactive approach to health and safety.
Jeff Moss, the founder of both the Defcon and Black Hat security conferences, praised the initiative. He described the effort as fantastic, pointing out that while carbon dioxide levels often serve as a useful proxy for overall air quality, affordable and accessible networked monitoring tools are scarce. By developing their own system, Kawaiicon demonstrated what Moss called “the true spirit of hacking”, solving practical problems with ingenuity and available technology.
(Source: Ars Technica)