Lonely Hackers Club
HSC101 Hacker Summer Camp n00b details Lonely Hackers Club.
Summary
Community Purpose
Star from Lonely Hackers Club (LHC) clarifies the group is not a dating site—it is a welcoming DEF CON crew for solo travelers who want friends before arriving. Originating from r/DEFCON repeat questions about hotels, parties, and badges, LHC keeps thousands registered with ~1,000 active on Telegram year-round.
Onboarding and Safety
Newcomers join via lonelyhackers.com/club Telegram, find mentors before con, and avoid first-timer panic (e.g., locating goons for badges). Host Nicole from The Diana Initiative recommends Hacker Summer Camp 101 resources, Hacker Tracker, and info booth or red-shirt goons when lost.
DEF CON Activities
LHC collaborates with OWASP, TDI, and others on resume reviews, CTFs, badge builds, workshops, and social events like group dinners (including social-engineering steakhouse outings). They occupy community space near TDI with content throughout the con, not a brief pop-up village.
Audience and Merch
Kids are generally discouraged except mature teen volunteers. LHC prioritizes community over sales, though electronic badges may appear; Telegram remains the primary engagement channel.
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