DEF CON

DEF CON 29

The 2021 hybrid DEF CON edition whose official MK Factor electronic badge used a Raspberry Pi RP2040, LCD, D-pad, macro-pad HID behavior, USB-C, SAO connectors, speaker, firmware updates, and a New Normal badge challenge.

Bally's and Paris, Las Vegas, Nevada · United States · 2021

DEF CON 29 Badge

An MK Factor official DEF CON 29 electronic badge built around Raspberry Pi's RP2040, a 1.8-inch LCD, six-button D-pad surface, SAO connectors, USB-C, speaker, coin-cell plus USB power behavior, UF2 firmware updates, HID macro-pad mode, and a New Normal challenge path.

Lifecycle

Add-ons & Upgrades

DEF CON 29 Badge archived

firmware workflow

UF2 firmware update workflow

Forum and field-report sources document firmware updates through USB storage/UF2-style workflows and role-specific challenge firmware behavior.

Compatibility: DEF CON 29 Badge

DEF CON 29 Badge historical

hardware expansion

Dual SAO connector host

The badge exposed both Type A and Type B SAO connectors, with community notes tying SAO behavior and add-ons into the badge challenge trail.

Compatibility: DEF CON 29 Badge

DEF CON 29 Badge historical

post-event utility

USB HID macro-pad mode

Hackaday documented that the badge could identify as a USB HID keyboard and operate as a configurable macro pad after the event.

Compatibility: DEF CON 29 Badge

Operational history

Issues & Camp Impact

DEF CON 29 Badge note

challenge-artifact caveat · source-backed but incomplete · needs deeper artifact inventory

Public sources document hardware, firmware updates, SAO/IR hints, serial/Morse material, and solving paths, but this pass does not mirror or audit every firmware image, forum attachment, add-on, or final badge state.

The catalogue records the verified hardware and challenge surfaces while leaving full artifact preservation for a later pass.

DEF CON 29 Badge note

missing rights-cleared image · local project policy · needs licensed original replacement

No local DEF CON 29 badge photo has been added because available article, forum, and writeup images have not been matched with a complete reuse basis, attribution string, and processing record for this catalogue.

The entry remains image-free rather than copying press, forum, or personal writeup photography without provenance.

Resources

DEF CON 29 badge writeup challenge writeup · Science Viking Labs source documenting the pre-con clues, challenge hint flow, SAO and IR observations, Morse and serial material, and badge solving path. DEF CON 29 InfoconDB record event metadata · InfoconDB source for August 5-8, 2021 DEF CON 29 metadata, Bally's and Paris location context, and official event links. DEF CON 29 event archive event page · Official DEF CON archive source for the 2021 event, linked FAQ, badge announcement links, post-con material links, and hybrid Las Vegas context. Hands-On: DEF CON 29 Badge Embraces The New Normal field report · Contemporary Hackaday source documenting MK Factor, RP2040 hardware, LCD, buttons, USB-C, SAO connectors, speaker, debug pads, and USB HID macro-pad behavior. DEF CON 29 badge hacking thread official forum thread · DEF CON forum source for badge power caveats, firmware-update behavior, challenge mode, role artwork, SAO and IR hints, and community solving notes.

Sources

DEF CON: DEF CON 29 Hacking Conference Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Official event archive source for DEF CON 29 context, FAQ and badge links, and post-con material references. DEF CON Forums: DEF CON 29 Badge Hacking Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Official forum source for firmware updates, power behavior, challenge mode, role art, SAO and IR hints, and ongoing community-solving details. Hackaday: Hands-On: DEF CON 29 Badge Embraces The New Normal Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Contemporary source for MK Factor creator attribution, RP2040 hardware, LCD, button layout, SAO headers, speaker, USB-C, debug pads, and HID macro-pad functionality. InfoconDB: DEF CON 29 (2021) Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Event metadata source for DEF CON 29 dates, Bally's and Paris location context, and official DEF CON links. Science Viking Labs: DEF CON 29 Badge Writeup Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Challenge writeup source for hint pages, SAO and IR observations, Morse and serial puzzle material, and post-event solving details.