Definition: DEF CON

A hacker's convention held annually in Las Vegas since 1993. Coined from "DEFCON" (DEFense CONdition), the term for the defense readiness condition of the U.S. Armed Forces, DEF CON includes lectures on cracking computers and networks and contests to see who can break a code the fastest. The program schedule is reviewed by vendors and government entities, which have an interest in the information being divulged.