Described by organisers as being "DefCon(ish)", in reference to the popular US hackeresque conference DefCon, held annually in Las Vegas, the two-day event will be held at the University of Technology, Sydney, in July. A Ruxcon spokesman said the 2003 event was a success, but it's hoped this year's conference will be bigger and better,
"Last time we had an issue where students were still having exams and that caused a few head-aches," he told ZDNet Australia. "So we're quite confident it will be bigger this time."
Around 300 security enthusiasts attended last year's event, with a diverse range of people fronting the event. "There was a range of people there from everyone from 16 to up to those in their 40's," he said.
The spokesman said the conference organisers have wound back the size of the organising committee, and armed with the experience of organising the last event -- their first -- they will be able to avoid some of the hassles that cropped up last year. One thing to change will be the entry fee. Attendees paid AU$30 in 2003. However, an increase in the costs associated with holding the event will almost certainly lead to an increase in the attendance fee.
"The price is probably going to go up," the spokesman said. "However, it will still be cheap when compared to any other conference in Australia, but our costs have gone up this year."
Ruxcon is hoping papers submitted to the organising committee for presentation will comprise of "new offensive and defensive" security techniques. "Preferably stuff that isn't public knowledge yet -- new techniques," he said.
Those attending last year's conference saw presentations on topics such as GSM phone network security, Web application security and kernel level vulnerabilities.
The 2003 event also saw a heavy contingent of Australian Federal Police officers -- as well as officers from other agencies such as the Australian Crime Commission and state police -- attend the two-day event. Current Australian High Tech Crime Centre Alastair MacGibbon delivered a presentation at last year's Ruxcon on the way electronic offences are enforcemed in Australia. He also described the officers' presence at the event as a "community policing exercise".
"I was impressed... I felt like I had a fair hearing," MacGibbon told ZDNet Australia after his presentation. "While there might have been philosophical differences, I thought there was a pleasant atmosphere for the police officers who were involved."
The Ruxcon organisers agreed having law enforcement agents at the event was a positive.
"We thought it was great," the spokesman said. He added the organising committee had been in contact with the authorities again this year.
Ruxcon 2004 will be held at the University of Technology, Sydney, on 10-11 July.
300 people @ $30 each = $9000
I thought the venue hire cost nothing... what costs have exactly risen, and what is costing $9000+?