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Fnord666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

Like other migrating beasts, hackers travel huge distances for feeding, breeding, and breaking things every summer -- at Defcon [defcon.org] in Las Vegas. The way they move about the city is driven primarily by the availability of free booze at corporate parties or the convenience of air-conditioned infosec habitats; the heat makes them torpid. As such, everyone takes taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts everywhere, day and night.

The mostly-male migration forgoes the braggadocio of colorful plumage as seen in avian species. Instead, they establish social dominance and attract attention of potential mates and recruiters by bragging. Thus, according to my taxi-related experiences [zdnet.com] while covering the conference over the years, Las Vegas car drivers overhear way more of infosec's boasting and swagger than they probably should.

Ferrying hackers and feds during "hacker summer camp" has got to be a dream gig for a spy. How could it not be? Spying on hackers is usually more trouble than it's worth. Thanks to Uber and Lyft's gig economy it's much easier. No union [engadget.com], no problem (for them at least).

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/03/when-your-uber-driver-is-a-spy/ [engadget.com]

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