Kawaiicon, like Kiwicon, is a hacker conference, which, if you were wondering, means we talk about the intricacies of breaking into, breaking out of, or breaking around technological systems. There will probably also be some poor souls talking about the intricacies of how someone broke their systems and their hapless adventures in defending against the unknown.

If you’ve been to a hacker con elsewhere or have been to Kiwicon, then you’ll know what Kawaiicon is about - but we try to add a little special (strange) kiwi flavour to it.

If you’re new to hacker conferences, well, we think you’re in for a treat. Kawaiicon is probably not like any other tech conference you’ve been to - there’s no dry, boring talks (we hope), no vendor booths, no bags of crappy pens and tripe you don’t want. Instead you’ll get people who are engaged with tech because they are pathologically curious; people who like poking things till they break just because its there and then figuring out how to fix them. You’ll probably also get one of the more hostile network environments you’re likely to connect to (perhaps, second to the Ministry of Health, circa 2009), so, unless you’re particularly confident at securing your laptop, phone, RFID proxcard, passport, pager, or iPad, you’d be best to just leave them at home. Or take the battery out (and watch out for HERF guns.)

Yes, some hackers break the law. Lots of hackers don’t - we’re not Legion; the Kawaiicon community includes people from corporate and government backgrounds, through purestrain infosec industry, and the wider tech sector, students, academics and onwards into space cadets, conspiracy theorists, freaks, and goths. So pretty much like life, then, but with much more people wearing black. Keep an open mind, and, in the words of Frankie, relax.

The frequently asked questions page may help, too.

Now that’s out of the way, go take a look at the call for papers and submit a heckin’ cool talk! You’ll be able to come back and throw us money for tickets and merch later.