Every year, Black Hat USA welcomes the top researchers and trainers from across the InfoSec landscape to present in Las Vegas. However, it's the skills and knowledge of our attendees that sets Black Hat apart. With this in mind, we are excited to present a rundown of some of the marquee challenges and competitions in store our attendees this year. Not only will these challenges test the mettle of our most seasoned attendees, there is also some serious cash (and prizes) involved.
For the first time ever at Black Hat, Microsoft will invite anyone who wants to participate in their Mitigation Bypass Bounty to do so LIVE in the Black Hat Sponsor Hall, in front of their judging committee. They'll have a laptop all set up with the latest OS (Windows 8.1 Preview), and if you're able to demonstrate your bypass, you'll be awarded the $100,000—and you'll also get to keep the laptop!
Next, as part of the Spikes-sponsored workshop, "Effective Solutions for the Browser Malware Epidemic," founder Branden Spikes will personally offer a $10,000 Grand Prize for obtaining the designated target file from the target PC to the person able to breach all 11 layers of defense.
The Symantec Cyber Readiness Challenge will give attendees a chance to put themselves in their adversary's shoes in a capture-the-flag style competition, both online and at the Symantec booth, for a chance to win a $2,500 grand prize.
Booz Allen Hamilton's sponsored workshop will host their unique CTF (Capture the Flag) Kaizen, designed to engage contestants at every level. BAH Mentors will be on hand to coax and coach those new to CTF competition, to heckle and challenge those who are there to tackle the challenge based prize targets.
And once again this year, UTSA, the founders of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition at the CIAS will run Panoply--a network assessment and network defense competition combined into a single event, with the top prize of a free pass to Black Hat USA Briefings 2014.
So bring your attack laptop, any Microsoft mitigation bypasses you might want to cash in, and your A-game to Black Hat USA this year. Enjoy some serious fun and competition with your peers. And who knows, you could even win big—because unlike the rest of the games in Vegas, you don't need luck, you need SKILLZ.