Hello, Hacker friend... We are DC518,

About DCG518

DCG518 is a DEF CON group focused on community, education, mentoring and bringing the InfoSec community in the NY Capital District together. Our gatherings feature presentations, workshops, CTFs, and anything else in which the community is interested. The group is community-driven, and allows its members to be active so they can learn or teach about a subject they are passionate about. DC518 also supports the already-existing security-related and technology-focused groups, and we encourage members of all groups to collaborate and share knowledge. We are strong together. The mission of the DCG518 group is to advance knowledge and educate anyone interested in science, technology, and other areas of information security through project collaborations, group gatherings, and group activities that will best serve our community and the world.

Knowledge-Sharing

Linux
Pentesting
Incident Response
Defense in depth
Reverse Engineering
OpenWRT
PostmarketOS
Malware Analysis
Vulnerability Management
Ghidra
Packet Analysis
Security Controls
Remediations
Mitigations
Weaponization
Wireshark
Networking
TCP/IP
Reconnaissance
ESP32
Arduino
DIY
ESP8266
Microcontrollers
Lockpicking
RTL-SDR
PCB-Design
Hardware-hacking
Soldering
Logic Analyzers
Microcontrollers
Oscilloscope
Electronic Mods
RFcat
FTDI
BusPirate
Artificial Intelligence Labs
Flashrom
PSU
SMD
Embedded Linux

Presentations & Workshops

Think cookies are just harmless crumbs left behind by websites? Think again. In this presentation, we will dissect the real nature of browser cookies — how they are harvested, how that data gets traded, and how is weaponized by third parties to shadow your every move across the world wide web. We will expose the under-the-hood mechanics of online web tracking, from deceptive consent banners like pop-ups to the vast data ecosystems profiting off your clicks. You will walk away with practical defenses, including how to wield tools like uMatrix and the Brave browser to disrupt tracking and take back control of your digital footprint.

This presentation is about Generative Artificial intelligence -AI- Security and Exploitation with a specification in Prompt Injection, a very simple, yet effective vulnerability ranked number 1 in the OWASP Top Ten Generative AI vulnerabilities. This presentation will go into depth about all forms of Prompt Injection attacks as well as their mitigations. Furthermore, there will be a demonstration of a proof of concept -POC- of an adversarial generative AI prompt injection attack

Join us for an exciting, hands-on Lockpicking Workshop where we explore the art and science behind mechanical locks—and how understanding their inner workings makes us all smarter about security. Whether you're a curious beginner or a cybersecurity enthusiast, this workshop offers a rare peek into the physical side of security. Far from encouraging unauthorized entry, this workshop teaches the mindset of a security professional: understanding how things break is the first step in learning how to protect them. Come ready to pick, learn, and challenge your thinking—because security is not just digital, and curiosity is the master key.

Coming soon... yes, you too can learn

Gathering location & Contact

The digital journey through the tech world begins here! Our ongoing DCG518 session this time will be the Saturday, July 12th, 2025 and will be at the Guilderland Public Library, in the Westbrook room. The gathering will have a presentation on The Cookie Jar Compromised - From leaving Crumbs to Complete Surveillance. Doors open at 1:30pm. The Guilderland Public Library is located at 2228 Western Avenue, Guilderland, New York 12084