How do you contact?

[guano]

Has anyone else noticed that it is impossible to email anyone at "blackhat.com" or "defcon.org"?

For example:
Email to "grifter@defcon.org" bounces with the message:
=============
Reporting-MTA: dns; comcast.net
Arrival-Date: 18 May 2004 16:13:48 +0000

Final-Recipient: rfc822; <grifter@defcon.org>
Action: failed
Status: 5.1.0 MAIL FROM: <guano@mydomain> 553 REPLY: 553_5.1.8_<guano@mydomain>..._Domain_of_sender_add ress_guano@mydomain_does_not_exist
Diagnostic-Code: smtp; Permanent Failure: Other address status
Last-Attempt-Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 16:13:59 -0000
=============

NOTE: I used real email addresses, from my own domain, my company's domain, and even my "comcast.net" address.

I also tried emailing "jmoss@blackhat.com" and it bounces the same way.

Then I tried calling Jeff from the phone number on the Blackhat contact web page:
1-206-790-3628
beep Beep BEEP
We're sorry. We cannot complete your international call.

Since there is NO WAY that I can see to contact the folks at Blackhat or Defcon, how are you supposed to contact anyone?

[Chris]

Has anyone else noticed that it is impossible to email anyone at "blackhat.com" or "defcon.org"?

For example:
Email to "grifter@defcon.org" bounces with the message:
=============
Reporting-MTA: dns; comcast.net
Arrival-Date: 18 May 2004 16:13:48 +0000

Final-Recipient: rfc822; <grifter@defcon.org>
Action: failed
Status: 5.1.0 MAIL FROM: <guano@mydomain> 553 REPLY: 553_5.1.8_<guano@mydomain>..._Domain_of_sender_add ress_guano@mydomain_does_not_exist
Diagnostic-Code: smtp; Permanent Failure: Other address status
Last-Attempt-Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 16:13:59 -0000
=============

NOTE: I used real email addresses, from my own domain, my company's domain, and even my "comcast.net" address.

I also tried emailing "jmoss@blackhat.com" and it bounces the same way.

Then I tried calling Jeff from the phone number on the Blackhat contact web page:
1-206-790-3628
beep Beep BEEP
We're sorry. We cannot complete your international call.

Since there is NO WAY that I can see to contact the folks at Blackhat or Defcon, how are you supposed to contact anyone?

We know our mail is jacked. DT is in Amsterdam for BH Europe so calling is pretty much a no go.
A message has been sent to him through a third party about the mail server (it's actually a DNS issue in all probability). The problem started about 6 hours ago.

When it gets resolved, someone may or may not let you know ;)

[bascule]

We know our mail is jacked. DT is in Amsterdam for BH Europe so calling is pretty much a no go.
A message has been sent to him through a third party about the mail server (it's actually a DNS issue in all probability). The problem started about 6 hours ago.

When it gets resolved, someone may or may not let you know ;)

What should I do about submitting my paper? I haven't received a bounce message... yet... is there somewhere else I should send it?

[highwizard]

What should I do about submitting my paper? I haven't received a bounce message... yet... is there somewhere else I should send it?

Just hold tight and wait till they're back from blackhat.

[Chris]

Just hold tight and wait till they're back from blackhat.

Actually, that's probably pretty sound advice. I don't know it for a fact, but my guess is that they aren't going to even look at submissions until they get back anyway. I will post back once the issue is fixed, but I honestly have no idea how long that will be.

[murakami]

DT is in Amsterdam for BH Europe so calling is pretty much a no go.

Vonage .06/minute to Amsterdam. Skype is even cheaper.

[Chris]

Vonage .06/minute to Amsterdam. Skype is even cheaper.

Sorry, I meant that as far as I know his cell phone is off. He doesn't generally report back to me with his hotel room info.
;)

[murakami]

Sorry, I meant that as far as I know his cell phone is off. He doesn't generally report back to me with his hotel room info.
;)

Really? I thought you called each other constantly to make sure you are both wearing matching black t-shirts. Must be the gazillion channels of porn in the hotel room, its a bitch watching it 15 seconds at a time, but thank god for remotes. With a little practice you'll never miss a beat. :D

[themusicsheep]

Vonage .06/minute to Amsterdam. Skype is even cheaper.

I thought Skype was loaded with Spyware etc.?

[Kry0NiK]

ESP is cheaper, contains no spyware, and doesnt require any phone numbers.

[spahkle]

ESP is cheaper, contains no spyware, and doesnt require any phone numbers.

but the tinfoil hats always cause static

[Chris]

DefCon mail is working again.

[guano]

DefCon mail is working again.

Are you sure?

The following addresses had delivery problems:

blackbeetle@defcon.org
Persistent Transient Failure: Delivery time expired
Delivery last attempted at 28 May 2004 15:04:28 +0000

--_40b9977e.6c5c.0+comcast.net=_
Content-Type: message/delivery-status

Reporting-MTA: dns; comcast.net
Arrival-Date: 28 May 2004 15:04:24 +0000

Final-Recipient: rfc822; blackbeetle@defcon.org
Action: failed
Status: 4.4.7 Unable to contact host for 1 days,
Diagnostic-Code: smtp; Persistent Transient Failure: Delivery time expired
Last-Attempt-Date: 28 May 2004 15:04:28 +0000

[phobal]

dude, we're not customer fucking support. everyone else has found a way to submit their papers...

[guano]

dude, we're not customer fucking support. everyone else has found a way to submit their papers...

1. Dude, take a fucking chill pill.
2. If you're going to run a contest, perhaps you should check to make sure the contest's email is working.

My email to blackbeetle was for the artwork/logo contest -- that closes on 1-June-2004.
I tried emailing from multiple accounts through multiple ISPs, all fail the same way.

Consider this:
For Defcon 11, there were 5 pages of backgrounds and 11 pages of logos.
For Defcon 12, there are only 5 pages of logos.
Are fewer people submitting?
Or is the email not working?

Since I'm getting bounced emails, I'd suggest you consider becoming "customer fucking support" and make sure that you don't have unhappy campers.

Defcon (and Blackhat) seems to be getting more and more unhappy people each year -- talk quality is dropping, and people's concerns are not being responded to in a reasonable fashion. And your "customer fucking support" doesn't make people happier. This year I'm still planning of Defcon/Blackhat, but next year I'll probably join the masses and hit Toorcon/Usenix instead -- Toorcon is more in tune with the hacking culture (and not just focused on drinking), Usenix is more cutting edge than Blackhat, both act more professional, and their attendees don't leave angry ("I couldn't get in to any speakers", "I couldn't get on the wireless", "They had that talk last year").