Cyber crime investigators hang out with hackers at the DEF CON 19 hacker conference

  • Published
  • By AFOSI Public Affairs
MCB QUANTICO, Va. --  A few Air Force Office of Special Investigations cyber crime investigators recently found a way to make a positive impact in the hacker community.

These CCI's attended DEF CON 19, one of the world's largest annual hacker conventions. The event was held over the weekend of August 6 in Las Vegas, Nev.

DEF CON attendees represent a variety of backgrounds including computer security professionals, journalists, lawyers, federal government employees, crackers, cyber-criminals, security researchers, and hackers with a general interest in all things cyber.

There were several contests during the conference, including lock-picking, art, slogan, scavenger hunt, capture the flag and network forensics.

AFOSI 1st Field Investigations Squadron and 6th Field Investigations Squadron CCIs competed as Team C2eye and took second place in the network forensics challenge. Team C2eye placed only 15 minutes behind the leading team which had twice as many members. The network forensics challenge, written by the Lake Missoula Group, LLC, was taken on by over 200 teams, some consisting of 6 or more team members.

"Our team's results in the forensics challenge illustrates what a capable force we bring to AFOSI and the Air Force," said Special Agent Kyle McCracken, one of the Team C2eye members. "This was also an effective exercise and demonstration of how we 'war fight' and sends a message to the hacker community that we are a legitimate player in this domain."

SA McCracken said gaining bona fides (in good faith) is a must to operate within the hacker community.

"1 FIS and 6 FIS CCI's are operating outside the box to build that good faith for the command and open up operational areas for the future," SA McCracken said.