Gangnam-Gu, Seoul -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/15/2011 -- Going to a hacker convention is sure to surprise first-timers because of the wide variety of people attending – and that includes kids, of course.

For 18 years now, computer security specialists and hackers have been assembling at DefCon, one of the longest-running and largest conferences of the type, mainly to share knowledge on securing and breaching electronic devices.

This year's DefCon highlighted what several hard-core attendees may well have to say is any stunning picture: children. The very first time, DefCon included tutorials and discussions with regards to future hackers, with age ranges of 8 to 16. Around 60 kids signed up.

During the course of two days, they rub elbows with famous hackers and NSA security specialists. They also get the chance to listen to talks about the history of hacking and some lectures involving cryptography. Some of the contests in the convention include lock-picking strategies (for when the kids forgot their locker combination). Basically, the young ones were encouraged to look for vulnerabilities in different technologies, ranging from computer hardware to video games.

The kids need to have a guardian or a parent with them in order to attend. Most of the parents present who brought their kids are longtime attendees of the conference and expressed enthusiasm on a great bonding opportunity.

Rey Ayers, 42 years old, is an Information Security expert in San Francisco Bay who has been attending the DefCon for the last 4 years. This year, he has brought his 14-year old son, Xavier, along. The kid has been tinkering with computers for some time now and has acquired a couple of IT certifications.

Ayers stated that it's significant to educate his son to the world of hacking and that they have already discussed about the line between unethical and ethical hacking.

Ayers added in an interview, "I see it in him – he feels like he fits in a group and I'm really proud. I can see the excitement in his eyes."

"I feel like a community here — it's like I'm not the only kid," Xavier said.

The idea for DefCon kids' conference came as hackers made headlines across the globe. Although the public often mistakes hacking with criminal doings, the business side of the technology industry has always accepted people who go beyond the limits of what can be done with electronic gadgets. Even the founders of Apple Inc. themselves, Stephen Wozniak and Steve Jobs, have considered themselves as hackers during the time they made the first Apple computers in the 70s.

However, the recent hacking sprees are what play into stereotype definitions of what hackers are. For example, during the weekend the hacker group Anonymous breached 70 law enforcement websites in the US, proving how real cyber threats are.

Defcon and the Black Hat technical security convention draw thousands of people in Las Vegas every year. They go there for the discussion of new vulnerabilities in different electronic devices, from mobile phones to crucial infrastructures.

Black Hat is more of an industry-sponsored conference which costs about $2,500 to enter had over 6,000 attendees this year. Executives and vendors in suits were present to strike deals and exchange cards until it ended on Thursday.

Meanwhile, DefCon, which wrapped up on Sunday, costs only $150 to enter. Just on the first day of registration, organizers have already sold 10,000 badges for the event. One famous amusement at DefCon involves attempting to determine those who are undercover federal agents.

Kirsten Crouse, another attendee said that they like to show how science and math work together to emphasize the value of doing good in school.

"It's an amazing opportunity for the kids to see what the options are out there," she said.

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Gangnam-Gu, Seoul -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/10/2011 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suffered a major compromise, the latest incident in a string of attacks targeting high-profile organizations.

The fund, which oversees financial crises worldwide and maintains sensitive financial information about member countries, disclosed the incident to employees and its board of directors on Wednesday, according to a report in the New York Times, which first reported the news. The attack, which occurred over the last several months, led to a "very major breach," according to the paper, citing an official familiar with the incident.

The IMF did not immediately respond when contacted by SCMagazineUS.com on Monday. The organization has not publicly disclosed the attack.

Many details about the incident, including to what information the attackers gained access, remain unknown. Based on the limited information that is currently available, the attack, which may have been state-sponsored, appears to have begun with a so-called spear phishing email that introduced malware onto an IMF desktop. Attackers then used this entryway to access fund systems.

In its internal memo to employees, the IMF reportedly said it had detected "suspicious file transfers."

In light of the attack, the IMF also reportedly told staff it would be replacing their RSA SecurID tokens, which are used for authentication. The fund said it does not believe, however, that the attack was linked to the recent cyberattack against RSA that garnered intruders sensitive information about SecurID products. The stolen SecurID data was leveraged in an attack against defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

According to reports, unease over the IMF breach has caused the World Bank, which provides financial assistance to developing countries around the world, to disconnect a computer link that allows the two organizations to share information.

The fund joins several other major organizations that have suffered attacks in recent weeks, including Citibank, Lockheed Martin, FBI partner InfraGard, Sony and Google.

"It seems a single day can't pass without a well-known institution making the headlines for being the victim of a hacking attack or loss of sensitive data," Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at anti-virus firm Sophos, wrote in a blog post Sunday. "All organizations need to take the seemingly growing tide of internet attacks as a warning sign, and ensure that they have strong defenses in place and that every member of staff has been trained in best practices to reduce the risk."

Meanwhile, the fund has made headlines in recent weeks following the arrest and resignation of its former chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whose alleged sexual assault offense has been leveraged by cybercriminals to distribute Mac OS X malware, Cluley said.

http://www.scmagazineus.com/imf-latest-victim-of-major-cyberattack-breach/article/205198/

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