Best of BSides LV 2025

What is BSides?

BSides is one of the most important community-driven cybersecurity conferences in the world. It has a global reach, with events on every continent, and the Las Vegas edition is part of the legendary Hacker Summer Camp, a full week featuring three major events: BSides LV, Black Hat, and DEF CON.

The name comes from "B-Side", the flip side of a vinyl record, often where artists put their rawest, most authentic work. This is the place for high-caliber talks that might not fit into commercial conferences but are made by and for the community.

BSides surged in 2009 from conversations on (then) Twitter between Mike Dahn, Jack Daniel, and Chris Nickerson, sparked by the frustration of having their talk submissions rejected by Black Hat. So, in a vacation rental with fewer than 100 people, they planted the seeds for what the event would become. In 2012, they earned federal 501(c)(3) recognition, officially becoming a nonprofit organization. And in 2025, BSides LV welcomed over 3,500 participants, 186 speakers, and two and a half days of conference content, marking its seventeenth edition.

To date, Security BSides, another name for the organization, has held over 1,000 conferences in 255 cities across 65 countries, staying true to its underground roots while expanding into different environments to give voice and bring knowledge to local communities. As Jack Daniel put it:

"BSides means community, conversation, content, and career; BSides provides the building blocks to create and grow each of these things, and much more."

BSides LV 2025: Dates, badges, and pricing

In 2025, BSides LV kicked off on Monday, August 4th and wrapped up on Wednesday, August 6th with the famous BSides Pool Party. To get your badge, you could choose from three ticket tiers: Participant for $110, Donor for $550, and Super Donor for $1,000+. All tiers included a Participant badge, Raffle Tickets for the silent auction, and stickers or swag from the event and vendors. Donor tier and above also got you a special edition t-shirt of the event, a second Donor badge, double (or more) Raffle Tickets, Pool Party access, and extra merch.

Made by and for the community

As a community event, the organizing team is 100% volunteer-run, from the Safety Ops handling physical security to the NOC (Network Operation Center) and all the event Staff. This team enforces the code of conduct, which centers on mutual respect, consent for photos, and empathy. Part of the philosophy is people at this conference are not attendees but participants. It's a relaxed environment built for community and connection. The talks are top-tier, but the event stays small enough that you won't get lost in the crowd. They care about mental health, look out for people, keep lines short, and offer a solid variety of activities happening at once, easing you into DEF CON.

Activities beyond the talks

Among the activities available in 2025, four really stood out:

• Crypto Adventure, a level-based competition focused on cryptography and steganography challenges.

• Pros V Joes CTF, where experts compete and teach beginners.

• Happy Hour and raffles, spaces for silent auctions and charity raffles with DJs and live music.

• Vendors and villages, sponsor booths with swag and a lockpicking village offering padlocks, deadbolts, and even handcuffs to pick open.

BSides LV talks

Of course, like most events of this kind, the main attraction at BSides LV is the talks. These are organized into different tracks or "Grounds," depending on their focus. Here's a quick rundown.

Breaking Ground is your go-to track if you want the big-picture view of the industry. It features 45- to 60-minute keynotes covering the current state of affairs, where things are heading, live demos, and audience interaction. It's the largest room and hosts the opening and closing ceremonies.

Ground Truth is the place to go if you're after technical depth and data. It's the most quantitative track: talks from hackers, academics, and data scientists with a focus on analysis and the scientific method.

Ground Floor covers cybersecurity fundamentals. These talks aren't keynotes but aren't ultra specialized either, so they're perfect for building a solid foundation.

Common Ground is the most versatile track. It touches on hardware hacking, laws and policy, lockpicking, mental health in the industry, AppSec… a bit of everything.

Proving Ground features exclusively first-time speakers who've never presented at a major conference. Each one went through four months of mentorship with experts. These 25-minute talks embody the BSides spirit of giving emerging talent a platform.

BSides also has dedicated tracks for specific interests. For example, PasswordsCon is practically a conference within the conference, 100% focused on authentication: passwords, MFA, biometrics, passwordless, breaches, and even password psychology. Another track, I Am The Cavalry, covers cybersecurity topics with direct impact on human lives: transportation, medicine, smart homes, and critical infrastructure.

Hire Ground is a must if you're job hunting or looking to grow professionally. It combines non-technical talks with résumé reviews, coaching, and interviews.

Training Ground offers hands-on workshops that run from half a day up to two full days. Heads up: These require separate registration, have limited spots, and you'll need to bring your laptop with the tools already installed.

And if you're looking for content that can't be shared anywhere else, there's Skytalks Ground. These are off-the-record talks: no recordings, no livestreaming, no press allowed. You enter without electronic devices and with a mask to protect your identity. Behind closed doors, people discuss unpublishable research, controversial topics, and content that pushes legal boundaries.

How to make the most of BSides

BSides LV packs all these tracks into its schedule, and they run simultaneously, so you'll always need to prioritize and choose. While most Grounds are recorded and uploaded to YouTube afterward, some activities and spaces aren't—or simply can't be relived. With that in mind, here are the best tips for getting the most out of your BSides experience:

1. Meet people: At Happy Hour, Middle Ground, the couches, the villages, wherever. Throughout the event, they emphasize that everyone is a participant, and the most valuable thing you can take away—beyond the knowledge—is the connections you make.

2. Explore and have fun: There are challenges, stickers, activities galore. Leave time for things beyond the talks.

3. Prioritize and plan your schedule: With so much going on, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Apps like HackerTracker can help you plan and keep track of the talks and events happening each day.

4. Take care of yourself: With everything going on, you can easily lose track of time, but it's always important to eat and stay hydrated. Bring a portable charger just in case and wear comfortable clothes. And remember, if you need support, you can talk to Staff or step away for a bit. There's a recovery hackers group, a quiet room to rest and relax, and they even hand out mental health kits at Middle Ground or the main hall.

5. Watch your digital security: Don't assume you can let your guard down just because you're at a security event. Avoid connecting to sketchy Wi-Fi networks and be discreet with your personal information.

BSides is waiting for you

Of everything I learned about the BSides LV community, I want to highlight this: You don't need to be the most experienced hacker in the room to belong. You just need curiosity, respect, and a willingness to learn. In a world where cybersecurity is becoming increasingly corporate, BSides reminds us that it all started in a vacation rental with fewer than 100 people who simply wanted to share knowledge.

For those of us in Latin America, Hacker Summer Camp might seem far away. But the BSides philosophy has already taken root in our region. And if you ever decide to walk through those doors guarded by Safety Ops, remember: you're not going as an attendee but as a participant.