“We use this as an opportunity to remind our employees of the importance of protecting our computers and systems from unauthorized use.’’ As the host venue, we can be a tempting target for some mischief,’’ said Gordon Absher, a spokesman for MGM Resorts International, the parent company of Mandalay Bay. “We do take steps to monitor our systems during this prestigious gathering.

“We have seen more outreach to smaller businesses to be aware.” There are memos that go out to the IT teams to let them know who is in town,’’ said Melanie Ensign, a spokeswoman for DefCon. While the conferences are a lucrative business for both Mandalay Bay and Caesars, filling up hotel rooms and restaurants during what is traditionally a slow period for the convention and meeting industry, they do require extra security precautions. The six-day Black Hat show, which attracted more than 15,000 people, ended Thursday at Mandalay Bay. The conference, which began Thursday and runs through Sunday, is being held for the first time at Caesars Palace to accommodate the bigger crowd.ĭefCon comes on the heels of Black Hat, a conference and trade show for cybersecurity professionals. The show has grown in size over the years as IT security has become a mainstream issue. Now in its 25th year, DefCon attracts as many as 25,000 people with the skills to hack into computers, phones and other gadgets connected to the internet. Brad, like many information technology gurus attending the DefCon conference, declined to give his last name for security reasons.

“It is amazing to me that we have enough of a reputation now that people here know to turn things off,’’ said Brad, who was wearing black shoes, socks, shorts and T-shirt topped with a cowboy hat. They may want to test their skills on local networks. Like many others on the Strip, he knows plenty of hackers and cybersecurity specialists are in town. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal Joyner, a barman on the Strip, knows to turn off his Wi-Fi this week and be careful surfing the internet. A Black Hat tech associate works in the network operating center (NOC) during the Black Hat information security conference at Mandalay Bay, Wednesday, July 26, 2017, In Las Vegas.

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