1,000 computer hackers meet in Budapest

Hacktivity 2010, the largest computer hackers' conference in eastern Europe, kicked off Saturday, with some 1,000 participants expected to attend the two-day event, according to organisers.

The conference was to bring together officials and computer experts from Hungary and abroad in an informal setting, combining lectures and discussions on serious issues such as Internet security, with lighter fare and games.

Bruce Scheier, a world-renowned cyber security expert, opened the congress with a keynote speech.

Other well-known participants and lecturers included Alexander Kornbrust of Oracle, Robert Lipovsky form the ESET computer security company's laboratory in Bratislava, and US hacker Mitch Altman, who was organising a hardware workshop.

Meanwhile, in the leisure zone, participants could test their ability to break into systems and take control of foreign computers in a variety of games, from "Hack the Vendor," to "Capture the Flag."

More information about the event is available on the following Internet site: hacktivity.hu/

(c) 2010 AFP