Issue dossier

BadgeBuddy was built for roughly thirty friends attending GrrCON rather than issued as an official event-wide admission badge.

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

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unofficial distribution scope · first-hand source · documented

The compendium records it as unofficial badgelife and avoids implying GrrCON organizer publication, attendee-wide distribution, or admission-credential status.

Badge
GrrCON 2024 BadgeBuddy
Category
unofficial distribution scope
Severity
note
Confidence
first-hand source
Status
documented
Timeframe
GrrCON 2024
Source note
CynicalSignals BadgeBuddy writeup and GrrCON official site.

Evidence

Related Resources

firmware source

BadgeBuddy firmware

Arduino-style ESP8266 firmware for the `BadgeBuddy` SSID, 30-second WiFi scans, unique-BSSID counting, 8x8 LED matrix animations, and falling-code mode.

Badge: GrrCON 2024 BadgeBuddy

official event site

GrrCON official site

Official event site used for GrrCON's Grand Rapids hacker, cybersecurity, and AI conference identity; it does not claim BadgeBuddy was an official event badge.

Badge: GrrCON 2024 BadgeBuddy

source repository

ickfosec/esp repository

Public repository containing the GrrCon 2024 BadgeBuddy and Backpack of Shame code and wiring diagrams; GitHub reported no detected repository license in this pass.

Badge: GrrCON 2024 BadgeBuddy

Source trail

Evidence Sources

GitHub / ickfosec · retrieved 2026-05-15

BackpackofShame.ino

Primary companion firmware source for the open GrrCON-themed access point, MAC-address tracking, and four-matrix scoreboard.

Badge: GrrCON 2024 BadgeBuddy

GitHub / ickfosec · retrieved 2026-05-15

BadgeBuddy.ino

Primary firmware source for BadgeBuddy AP+station mode, SSID scanning, BSSID counting, LedControl display behavior, and animation thresholds.

Badge: GrrCON 2024 BadgeBuddy

GitHub / ickfosec · retrieved 2026-05-15

ickfosec/esp

Primary public source repository for BadgeBuddy and Backpack of Shame code plus wiring diagrams; GitHub reported no detected repository license in this pass.

Badge: GrrCON 2024 BadgeBuddy