Hacking the Timeline From Roots to Revolution: Building an Inclusive & Activist Cyber Future

The story of cybersecurity is a story of evolution—where lessons from the past shape the present and define the future. At BSides Bloomington, we explore how hacking has always been more than just technology; it’s been a movement. From the early pioneers of ethical hacking to today’s frontline defenders of privacy and digital rights, our community has stood for more than just security—we’ve stood for justice, inclusion, and progress.

This year’s conference celebrates the past, honoring the hacker activists and researchers who paved the way. We tackle the present, examining the pressing security challenges of today, from digital privacy threats to the fight for an open internet. And we look to the future, envisioning how we can build a cyber community that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that the next generation of hackers and security professionals represents all voices, all backgrounds, and all perspectives.

Together, we will continue the fight to protect human rights, civil liberties, and digital privacy in an age of mass surveillance, AI-powered threats, and ever-changing cyber landscapes. Because cybersecurity isn’t just about defending networks—it’s about defending people.

Join us at BSides Bloomington as we hack the timeline and shape the future.

 In music, a "b-side" is a term from the days of vinyl records that refers to a secondary recording that is usually left out of an album. Security BSides was co-founded in 2009 by Jack Daniel, Chris Nickerson, and Mike Dahn after being rejected from a DefCon event. These professionals wanted to create more opportunities for researchers and professionals to share their ideas, outside of the larger, expensive conferences.

Now Security BSides is a framework utilized internationally by a network of loosely affiliated conferences, each unique in their personality but united in their cause: make the sharing of information accessible and fun.