[HacktionLab] How to CryptoParty

[Mick Fuzz]

There are lots of good things in that Handbook however!


  How To CryptoParty
  <http://mirror-de.cryptoparty.is/handbook/chapter_00_introducing_cryptoparty/chapter_00_introducing_cryptoparty.html#how-to-cryptoparty>

  *

    Throw a party. All you need is a time, a date and a location. Add it
    to the wiki: https://cryptoparty.org.

  *

    Make sure you have Internet connectivity and enough power sources
    for all devices. If you do not have a place to hold a CryptoParty,
    find a pub or park where you can meet and squeeze the public
    bandwidth. That will really hone your skills!

  *

    Bring USB sticks and printed handouts for those who need them, and
    set up old computers for people to fiddle with and try out new skills.

  *

    Talk about Linux to everyone you meet at your CryptoParty. If you
    are new to CryptoParties - ask someone "what is Linux?" ASAP.

  *

    Make entry free for all if possible - CryptoParties are
    not-for-profit, not commercially aligned and especially important
    for those without other resources.

  *

    Teach basic cryptographic tools to the masses. Crowd-source the best
    crypto. We suggest PGP, OTR, and Tor as the first tools to install.

  *

    Invite experts and non-experts from all fields. Everyone is an
    expert on something.

  *

    If you want CryptoParty to do something, start doing it. Organise
    organically and chaotically. Have no clear leadership. Urge people
    to take on a sudo leadership role - take a tutorial, fix the wifi,
    update the wiki, or organise the next CryptoParty. If someone claims
    others are doing it wrong - invite them to nominate themselves to do
    it better.

  *

    Ask for feedback. Assimilate critics - ask them for their help in
    creating a better CryptoParty. Do not be scared to troll the trolls
    back or boot them from your space. Share feedback on the wiki. Iterate.

  *

    A successful CryptoParty can have as many or as few as two people.
    Size doesn't count, it's what you do with it that matters. The
    criterion for success should be that everyone had fun, learned
    something and wants to come to the next party.

  *

    Think of the CryptoParty movement as a huge Twitter hive ready to
    swarm at any moment. Tweet a lot, and make your tweets are
    meaningful. ReTweet other CryptoPartiers frequently.

  *

    Make sure the way crypto is taught at your party could be understood
    by a 10 year old. Then have the 10 year old teach it to an 80 year
    old. Breach the digital divide with random acts of awesomeness such
    as unfettered use of images of kittens in all CryptoParty
    literature. Red underpants on heads is only mandatory if you wish to
    bid in our spectrum auction.

  *

    Consider hosting private, off-the-radar CryptoParties for activists,
    journalists and in individuals working in dangerous locations.

  *

    Don't scare non-technical people. Don't teach command lines before
    people know where the on-off buttons are located on their laptops.
    Everyone learns at their own pace - make sure there is support for
    those in need of help.

  *

    Doing excellent stuff at CryptoParty does not require permission or
    an official consensus decision. If you're uncertain about the
    excellence of something you want to do, you should ask someone else
    what they think.

  *

    Consider the need for a bouncer, particularly if your CryptoParty
    expects over 50 people. Dress the bouncer up as a Sumo wrestler. Do
    not be afraid bounce people who breach CryptoParty's anti-harassment
    policy.

  *

    CryptoParty is dedicated to providing a harassment-free sharing
    experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation,
    disability, physical appearance, body size, heritage, or religion.
    Behaving like an arsehole may mean you are permanently uninvited to
    CryptoParties events. Harassment includes:

      o hurtful or offensive comments
      o deliberate intimidation
      o direct or indirect threats
      o stalking
      o following
      o inappropriate physical contact
      o unwelcome sexual attention.
  *

    Encourage a culture of sharing. Encourage advanced users to help
    not-so advanced ones. Delegate.

  *

    Use online meeting platforms like mumble, or even chatrooms (e.g.
    #cryptoparty room on http://occupytalk.org/) when physical meetups
    are not possible or impractical.

  *

    Copy from other cryptoparties. Remix, Reuse and Share. Create a
    basket of old devices people are willing to donate to more needy
    CryptoPartiers.

  *

    Get the word out! Print posters and/or flyers and distribute them in
    your neighbourhood, post online versions to social networks and mail
    them to friends, for them to distribute the info even further.

  *

    Don't sell out to sponsors for pizza and beer money. Ask people to
    try and bring food and drink to share. Host CryptoPicnics as often
    as possible. Make friends with librarians. They wield power over
    keys to local, public meeting rooms that may be free of charge to
    utilize.

  *

    Invite all the people. Bring people together who have a wide range
    of skills and interests - musicians, political pundits, activists,
    hackers, programmers, journalists, artists and philosophers. Spread
    the love.

  *

    Invite the graphic designers and illustrators you know to contribute
    new ways to help people understand crypto.

  *

    Invite everyone to share their knowledge and their skills.
    Individuals with little or no coding, programming, hacking or crypto
    skills can change cultures by promoting the idea that privacy is a
    fundamental right.

  *

    Share music, beers, & chips. Bond together over eclectic music,
    cheeseballs, installing GPG, TrueCrypt, OTR and Tor, as well as
    watching movies together. We recommend Hackers, The Matrix,
    Bladerunner, Tron, Wargames, Sneakers, and The Net.

  *

    Do not work too hard. Take breaks. Eat popcorn together. Create
    slang, phrases, memes.

  *

    When people at CryptoParties ask for advice on "hacking the Gibson"
    refer them to episodes of 'My Little Pony'.

  *

    Create fliers and advertise using slogans like: "CryptoParties: If
    there is hope, it lies in the proles" and "CryptoParty like it's
    1984." CryptoParty all the things to avoid oppression and depression.

  *

    Seed CryptoParties in your local communities - at nursing homes,
    scout groups, music festivals, universities, schools. Take
    CryptoParty to isolated and remote communities. Make friends in far
    away places and travel whenever possible. Ask people in rural
    farming communities if they'd like to CryptoParty.

  *

    Share shimmering opportunities of crowd-sourced privacy: swap cheap,
    pre-paid SIMs, handsets and travel cards.

  *

    Create logos in bright pink and purple, with hearts all over them.
    Promote CryptoParties to rebellious 13 year old girls. Declare
    success if rebellious 13 year old girls demand to attend your parties.

  *

    Become friends with journalists. Invite them to your parties. Teach
    them crypto. Do not scare them by discussing Assassination Markets.

  *

    Strew CryptoParty sigils across your city in 3am post-party raids.
    Make lots of stickers, paste them everywhere.

  *

    Experiment, constantly. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Encourage
    people to tinker. Assume all mistakes are meant to made. Most people
    under intel agency scrutiny have electronic devices already
    compromised before they walk in the door. Teach people to install
    tools from scratch, so they can do it on a new machine, away from
    prying eyes.

  *

    Assume intel agencies send representative to CryptoParties.
    Acknowledge their presence at the start of your meeting, ask them to
    share their crypto skills. Joke about paranoia as often as possible
    without instilling panic. Wear tinfoil hats.

  *

    Be excellent to each other and CryptoParty on.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.aktivix.org/pipermail/hacktionlab/attachments/20131205/43fce4c7/attachment-0001.html>