Skip to main content

Bugsmirror's Vegas Chronicles: Black Hat and Google BugSWAT

Life at Bugsmirror | 5 min read
This year, Black Hat USA, a premier cybersecurity conference held annually, took place in Las Vegas. It’s a gathering of security professionals, researchers, and hackers from around the world. And of course, Bugsmirror was there. Simply because (our avid readers know it already), we are where innovation is.
It was the perfect opportunity to participate in live events, network with other hunters, learn from experts, and promote our brainchild, Bugsmirror. So without much hesitation, but with lots of planning, we decided to embark on this little trip to the bustling city of Las Vegas.

Starting our journey with shubh dahi shakkar, with heavy bags and heavier hopes for the event we reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi just in time for our flight. But our brimming smiles soon faded off when our flight got delayed, and we had to clear multiple security checks, each one more rigorous than the previous. We were pushed through these security checks, like a product through the quality inspection line at a factory, but good news — we passed. After the thorough inspection, we boarded the flight, silently complaining about the teeth biting cold and the chaos. Luckily, I had nothing to complain about my company on board, I was seated next to a lady with a bubbling personality who shared my love for talking. The 16-hour-long flight went by quickly while we discussed everything from our professions to our favourite places.

When we reached San Francisco International Airport, our minds were busy planning ahead for the trip but our tired bodies were hunting for a spot bigger than the 17 x 30 inch flight seat we were glued to for so long. Our comfort of open space was short-lived, as the 2 hour long layover was over in like 20 minutes for us.

And then it happened, in another hour and a half, we finally reached our destination, Las Vegas. The Henry Reid International Airport was massive, and the layout was so much different than what we see in Indian airports. Understandably, we got lost and wandered around the airport for way longer than we cared to admit just to be able to find our luggage. Thankfully, we had the airport tram to our rescue, which led us to the baggage claim and we were reunited with our bags.
Stepping out of the airport, we were greeted by the scorching Las Vegas heat, and the vast empty roads. It was a stark contrast to the bustling city we had imagined. Rushing to our stay, we took the rest of the day off to heal from the exhausting jet lag.

The next day, like typical tourists, we recorded our way to the Mandalay Bay, reaching the whirlwind of activity, the Black Hat USA 2024. As former engineers, and lifelong enthusiasts of innovation and technology, we were overwhelmed by the tech wonderland. Every direction we looked at, we saw booths, endless sponsorship displays, product demonstrations, talent exhibitions, and absolute marketing in action. And of course, it was a melting pot of cybersecurity professionals. We tried our best to make the most of the opportunities present, took every opportunity to interact with professionals, network with fellow startups, participate in the marketing gimmicks, collect all the swag & freebies, and took a short moment to look around and reflect back on our wonderful journey of starting Bugsmirror and taking it here, literally over the Atlantic and across the world.
To bring our day to a perfect end, we were craving good food—and what’s good food without great company? So we met with the Google Team for dinner, catching up with some familiar faces and meeting some new people. The place they picked had great ambiance, the music was nice too, and it was all perfect until the food arrived with chopsticks on the side. It was not the easiest task to handle a chopstick, we had our fair share of struggles with it, but it was fun nonetheless.

On the third day of our trip, we headed to the University of Nevada- Las Vegas. The campus was huge and green, to say the least. And again, like typical tourists, seeing greenery in the empty deserted land (not literally), our cameras were out again. We also attended the 0x0G Event by Google and, being true tech entrepreneurs, participated in the BugSWAT challenge.
Then, we headed back to the Black Hat Event to explore some more booths, attend more summits, and catch up on more networking.

And that’s it. No wait-–did I mention I also won a lottery? Because I did, and I got a really cool prize too.

And now that’s it for real, we packed up our luggage and swags (lots and lots of it) and checked out from our stay, leaving straight for the airport. For some reason, this flight felt shorter than the one we took to get here, maybe because we were too tired and dozed off or maybe because we had so much to reflect back on.
Landing back in Indore was a feeling I can’t begin to describe. The trip was amazing, undoubtedly, but there is truly no place like home. As soon as I changed out of my vacation clothes, I rushed to the one place I kept thinking about throughout the flight—yes the dining table—to the fresh, homemade Indian food!

Until next time, Vegas! From the Bugsmirror team, signing off.

If we were able to successfully create the visuals of the trip in your head, also check out our vlog to know if you got it right!

Manas Jain
Chief Product officer

Comments

  1. Get in touch with a professional hacker ( tech ) to help hack your cell phone. Trusted and verified with quick responds and legit services. They offer services like (Cell phone hack , GPS tracker, Delete criminal records, Retrieve wallet, Retrieve Gm ail, face book, whatsApp, photos and many more...), All these services are done remotely, distance is not a barrier. You can reach out with them on ( SPYRECOVERY36 @ gm ail c om ).

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Security Best Practices for Secure Fintech App Development

Alt text: Security Best Practices for Secure Fintech App Development In one of our previous blog posts “ Security Best Practices for Developing Secure Mobile Apps ”, we talked about why developing secure mobile apps is a must and listed out various security best practices for developing all types of mobile apps. You can read that blog to understand the major aspects of secure mobile app development. In this blog, we will specifically discuss security best practices that need to be followed for developing secure Fintech Apps. Table of contents Fintech App Security - Challenges and Necessity Security Best Practices for Developing Fintech Apps Cutting-edge Security Solutions for Fintech App Development Companies Fintech App Security - Challenges and Necessity The major challenges of Fintech App Security are: 1. Stored data at risk Fintech apps store very sensitive personal information, such as bank account details and investment details. If the storage processes or spaces are not secure ...

Bugsmirror Defender - Pioneering the Future of Mobile App Security

Bugsmirror Defender | 4 min read Mobile app security has evolved over the years and is becoming more internal than external. Well, to understand the previous sentence, you need to understand in-app protection techniques such as Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP), tamper detection, etc., that are a set of security measures embedded directly into the mobile applications to protect them from the inside. It’s a much superior way to protect mobile apps than the old-school app protection solutions. The market abounds with various products designed to safeguard apps from within, and we are thrilled to introduce Bugsmirror Defender - our revolutionary mobile app security product, addressing the growing demand for heightened mobile app security. Let’s start exploring Bugsmirror Defender. Table of contents Traditional security fails: Bugsmirror Defender prevails Strengthening Mobile Security: Bugsmirror Defender's Features in Focus Traditional security fails: Bugsmirror Defender p...

Bugsmirror Defender's Security Breakthrough: Redefining Protection

Bugsmirror Defender | 9 min read In our inaugural blog post “ Bugsmirror Defender - Pioneering the Future of Mobile App Security ”,  we introduced our amazing security product, ‘Bugsmirror Defender’, offering a glimpse into its robust security features designed to transform the mobile application security landsca pe. In this blog post, we will learn about the driving force behind Bugsmirror Defender's creation , the journey of Bugsmirror Defender from concept to reality, and the intricate workings that set it apart. To keep things easy in this blog, we will alternatively use “Defender” instead of “Bugsmirror Defender”. Let's unco ver the innovation and dedication behind Bugsmirror Defender's development, and discover how it is poised to redefine the standards of mobile app security. Table of contents The limitations of current RASP-based mobile app security solutions Bugsmirror Defender’s development: From idea to implementation How Bugsmirror Defender works and sets new st...

Security Best Practices in Healthtech App Development

Security Blogs | 5 min read In today's digital age, technology in the form of healthtech applications plays a crucial role in the healthcare industry. They streamline processes, improve patient care, and enhance the overall healthcare experience. Companies and people are using technology to easily access, share, and process health data across the world. However, the sensitive nature of health data and the increasing number of security threats make it imperative for developers to prioritize security. In this blog post, we will explore essential security best practices in healthtech app development. Table of contents Why should Healthtech Apps be secure? Security Best Practices for Healthtech Apps We are ready to secure your Healthtech Apps! Why should Healthtech Apps be secure? Healthtech apps have transformed healthcare, offering incredible convenience and efficiency . However, with this innovation come unique challenges. First and foremost, the vast amount of sensitive patient dat...

A Cautionary Tale of Android Security Bug CVE-2022-20004

Security Blogs | 7 min read In the ever-evolving landscape of mobile security, it is imperative for financial app developers, founders, and CEOs to stay vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their users' data. Hence, we bring to your attention a cautionary tale about a severe Android security bug , identified as Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures number CVE-2022-20004 , which has the potential to expose sensitive information to malicious third-party apps. Let’s delve into the story behind this security vulnerability and discuss the importance of securing financial applications. Table of contents Introduction Creating Secure Slices The Slice of Danger What is an Android Package? The Flaw Unveiled Google's Swift Action Beyond OS-Level Security Introduction In the vast realm of Android, where millions of users rely on financial apps to manage their money, a dangerous bug lurked within the system. It all started with a small oversight during the development process. Unbeknownst ...

How do Mobile App Security Threats Impact Businesses?

Security Blogs | 3 min read In today’s digital-first world, companies across various sectors rely heavily on mobile applications to deliver seamless, on-demand services to customers. But the security risks associated with mobile apps make it a vulnerable option, especially in industries where sensitive information is involved. Security threats can have devastating consequences for businesses — from financial losses and legal repercussions to a damaged reputation and loss of customer trust. Table of contents The Far-Reaching Consequences of Security Threats Industry Specific Impacts Actionable Steps for Mobile App Protection The Far-Reaching Consequences of Security Threats Security threats can impact businesses in several profound ways. 1. Financial Losses: Economic losses are among the most immediate impacts of mobile app security threats. Businesses face financial damage in multiple ways, from the theft of proprietary information to unauthorized financial transactions. For instance, ...

PoC and steps of reproduction of bugs help to fix vulnerabilities

Table of contents Introduction Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Steps of reproduction of bugs Bugsmirror: One-stop solution for all your security needs Introduction In the previous blog post, we discussed security audits in detail. After a security audit finds bugs or vulnerabilities in a mobile application, “Proof-of-Concept (PoC)” and “steps of reproduction of bugs” are reported for each vulnerability. They help companies to verify the security vulnerabilities, understand where they were found in the code and fix them. The more vulnerabilities a company fixes, the more secure its products will be. Proof-of-Concept (PoC) A proof-of-concept of a bug or vulnerability is a screenshot or a video which shows & proves that the vulnerability was found during a security audit of an app or a product. PoC can be screenshots of parts of a code, data leaked due to security vulnerability, etc. Let’s understand proof-of-concept in detail with an example of a hospital data management app’s security audi...

Why is a security audit of mobile apps necessary?

(Alt text: Why is a security audit of mobile apps necessary?) Table of contents Introduction Security audit of mobile apps Do your company’s products need a third-party security audit? Bugsmirror’s research-based security services Introduction Mobile devices have improved business prospects & customer service. Today, most product-based and service-based companies interact with their customers & clients via mobile devices or smartphones. Some businesses rely entirely on mobile devices to connect with customers & clients. But with the increase in use of mobile devices, attacks to exploit security bugs or vulnerabilities in mobile applications and operating systems are also on the rise. Security vulnerabilities can leak sensitive customer or client data, damage your business reputation, and reduce customers’ or clients’ trust in your company. It may also result in regulatory penalties and financial losses for your company. Hence, it has become essential to conduct security aud...

My unforgettable experience at the Meta Bug Bounty Researchers Conference

Life@Bugsmirror Blogs | 5 min read I had the privilege of attending the Meta Bug Bounty Researchers Conference 2023, held in Seoul, South Korea, on June 29 and 30, 2023. The conference was an invite only event that brought together famous security researchers and professionals. Being a passionate security researcher myself, it felt great to be a part of such a prestigious security conference, and I am thrilled to share my experiences and insights from the event in this blog post. The invitation: An absolute honor Receiving the invitation to attend the Meta Bug Bounty Researchers Conference was an absolute honor, and I was more than happy to accept it. It would be the first time that I would attend a Meta event. Meta paid for my entire trip and handled all of the planning, including the travel, lodging, and meals. I started my journey from Indore in the afternoon of June 27 and boarded a flight to Delhi. In the evening, I took a flight to Seoul and reached there in the early morning o...