Issue dossier

DEF CON 4 is modeled as a non-electronic physical chest credential because the public source trail proves an identity/access artifact but does not support electronics, firmware, or hackable hardware claims.

A linkable camp-impact record with badge context, severity, evidence confidence, and source notes.

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non-electronic scope · source-backed classification · documented

The compendium preserves the early conference credential without upgrading it into a circuit-board badge.

Badge
DEF CON 4 Human Badge
Category
non-electronic scope
Severity
note
Confidence
source-backed classification
Status
documented
Timeframe
1996-2006 DEF CON badge transition
Source note
DEF CON 4 official media-server photo evidence, InfoconDB event metadata, official DEF CON archive page, and later DEF CON badgelife histories placing the first active electronic DEF CON badge at DEF CON 14.

Evidence

Related Resources

article

Badgelife history

VICE/Motherboard history placing the first DEF CON electronic badge at DEF CON 14 in 2006, supporting DEF CON 4's conservative non-electronic classification.

Badge: DEF CON 4 Human Badge

official program

DEF CON 4 program

Official scanned program PDF preserved in the DEF CON media archive for event-program context; no badge electronics claim is derived from it.

Badge: DEF CON 4 Human Badge

rights-limited archive photo

DEF CON 4 chest-credential photo evidence

Official archive JPEG showing an attendee wearing a red-topped rectangular chest credential; used only as artifact evidence and not republished because the embedded copyright comment and media-server context do not satisfy the site's image policy.

Badge: DEF CON 4 Human Badge

Source trail

Evidence Sources

DEF CON Communications · retrieved 2026-05-15

DEF CON 4 Program

Official scanned program PDF preserved in the DEF CON media archive; used for event-program context rather than badge hardware claims.

Badge: DEF CON 4 Human Badge

DEF CON Media Server · retrieved 2026-05-15

DEF CON 4 Evil Pete Sat-027.jpg

Official archive image evidence for a visible red-topped rectangular DEF CON 4 chest credential; used for artifact description only, not as a local published image.

Badge: DEF CON 4 Human Badge

DEF CON Media Server · retrieved 2026-05-15

DEF CON 4 Evil Pete Sat-044.jpg

Official archive image evidence for another rectangular DEF CON 4 chest credential; used for artifact corroboration only, not as a local published image.

Badge: DEF CON 4 Human Badge

InfoconDB · retrieved 2026-05-15

DEF CON 4 (1996)

Event-context source for DEF CON 4 dates, official-page and program links, admission price, and Monte Carlo Resort and Casino venue metadata.

Badge: DEF CON 4 Human Badge