In a world that is increasingly reliant on digital systems, aging technology and unchecked market forces, a perfect storm is brewing that could see longstanding consumer rights trampled and the lights go out (literally) on human progress.
That’s the message of two talks that the Secure Resilient Future Foundation is participating in at this year’s “Hacker Summer Camp” in Las Vegas, where SRFF President Paul Roberts will speak at the 2025 BSides Las Vegas conference and DEF CON 33’s Policy Village. Here’s what to know:
A Warning From the Front Lines at BSides LV
First, at this year’s BSides Las Vegas Conference, which is taking place at the Tuscany Suites and Casino On Tuesday, August 5, from 18:00 to 19:00, Paul will join an expert panel on the “I Am The Cavalry” track, which is digging into cyber threats to critical infrastructure and public health and safety. The session—titled “End-of-Life Equipment Should Not Mean End-of-Life (Your Life)”—features Silas Cutler of Censys and Stacey Higginbotham of Consumer Reports.
As the digital infrastructure supporting hospitals, utilities, and transportation systems ages, many critical systems continue to rely on end-of-life (EOL) equipment—hardware and software that no longer receives security updates or vendor support. These systems often harbor “forever-day” vulnerabilities: exploitable flaws for which no fixes exist and none are coming.
The panel will explore the national security and public safety risks associated with end of life and unpatchable infrastructure, as well as the policy and technical solutions needed to phase out or protect these legacy assets. In an era of rising software supply chain attacks and fragile systems, this isn’t just a matter of operational risk—it’s a threat to lives and livelihoods.
Fighting “Enshittification” at DEF CON 33’s Policy Village
The conversation deepens at DEF CON 33 with another SRFF appearance on Saturday, August 9 at 11:30 AM, during the Policy Village panel titled:
“The (En)Shit Storm Has Arrived: Here’s How to Survive.”
This panel tackles one of the most insidious trends in modern technology: “enshittification.” Coined by author Cory Doctorow, the term refers to the systemic erosion of digital platforms and products—driven by business models that sacrifice quality, resilience, and user rights for short-term profit.
From subscription-locked features in smart home devices to vulnerable routers with no update path, enshittification is undermining long-held concepts of ownership, privacy, and control. Even worse, these patterns have begun to infect the infrastructure that underpins society, increasing the risk of widespread, destabilizing cyberattacks on critical services.
Moderated by SRFF’s Paul Roberts, the panel includes:
- Joshua Corman, Founder of I Am The Cavalry and public safety/resilience lead at IST
- Kevin O’Reilly, Executive Director, The FULU Foundation
- Window Snyder, CEO, Thistle Technologies
Together, the panel will examine how the phenomenon of “enshittification” compromises national resilience and what must be done to reverse the trend—from proposed policy reforms and consumer protections to improved standards for device security and sustainability.
Our Message: Focus on Resilience and Reform
This year’s talks follow on SRFF’s panel at last year’s DEF CON highlighting the risk posed by “Bricked and Abandoned” devices. It’s part of SRFF’s larger mission to educate the public about the invisible threats posed by outdated and abandoned software and devices, while championing the rights of technology owners in an age of digital degradation. SRFF is committed to building a more secure and resilient digital future. Our presence at BSides LV and DEF CON 33 underscores the importance of bridging technical insight with actionable policy—especially as more sectors of society depend on brittle, profit-driven technology ecosystems.
If you’re attending either event, don’t miss these critical discussions. Now is the time to reshape how we think about ownership, resilience, and safety in a world defined by software.
📍 BSides Las Vegas – Tuesday, August 5 | 18:00–19:00 | Copa Room
🎤 “End-of-Life Equipment Should Not Mean End-of-Life (Your Life)”
📍 DEF CON 33 Policy Village – Saturday, August 9 | 11:30 AM
🎤 “The (En)Shit Storm Has Arrived: Here’s How to Survive”