In the past years there has been a great deal of attention paid to the treatment and incidents involving females at conferences. Instead of just addressing problems after the fact, this is my attempted answer to speaking to potential issues and offering at least somewhat of a solution.

I truly love this community and the amazing experience that the conferences can be, and I want to do my part to ensuring everyone (from industry to journalists and everyone in-between) has the most positive experience that they can.

For the 2013 week of BlackHat + DEFCON, I am offering up my time and efforts to help. If you are or you know someone, especially (but not only) female, who is new to the conferences or might need a friendly hand, give them this number:

+1-650-4-BACKUP

I have setup this to contact me via voice and text during the conference so I can help assist people who find themselves uncomfortable, need a friend to talk to about something that happened, are in a situation that is turning bad that need some assistance, or need some first-time attendee guidance. Anyone who reaches out will have their information kept confidential and not shared unless the individual wishes for me to speak on their behalf.

If for some reason I can’t get to you personally, I will respond with a trusted helping hand to help you as much as possible.

This number is not:

• A party-info line. I can’t get you into parties.
• A general conference information line. Google and conference staffs are there for you for general info.
• A phishing expedition.
•  1-900-CHATROOM.
• “I just wanted to see what’s up”

This number is for situations such as:

• I need help with or someone to talk to in confidence about an inappropriate situation that is developing or has occurred.
• It’s my first conference and I feel absolutely alone or am having an absolutely horrid experience.

We’ll see how this experience goes this year, and I may expand this to other conferences if positive. Please don’t be “that guy/girl” who abuses the number or thinks it’s funny to crank call. Go crank call rooms at the Rio instead  .

If you are trusting, friendly, and want to help others, send an email to backups at secbarbie.com.

**PHONE NUMBER WILL GO LIVE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND STAY ON-LINE UNTIL THE AUGUST 9TH