Hackmeck is our version of a regular hacking meetup at Zentrum für Technikkultur Landau e. V. – and by now the longest-running event series in our space!

Here, we explore cybersecurity, vulnerabilities, and exploitation techniques hands-on. The goal is never to learn criminal activities, but rather to raise awareness for misconfigurations and security flaws in order to effectively defend and protect our own systems – both at home and at work.

Origin & Idea

The series was initiated by Mona when she began working as a professional IT security specialist. To collaboratively build and expand expertise while sharing knowledge, the idea of a regular meetup at ZTL was born: A safe sandbox environment to track current IT security developments, discuss attack vectors, and experiment with real-world scenarios.

What Happens at a Hackmeck Evening?

A typical session often starts with a challenging challenge prompt:

“Here is the IP address of a machine that might be vulnerable. Your objective is to discover and extract specific flags or data. Where do you start?”

Then the team gets to work:

• Real Tools in Action: We use the exact same toolset as security researchers and penetration testers: Port scanners, directory fuzzers, password crackers, reverse shells, and exploit frameworks.
• Teamwork & Collective Intelligence: We solve challenges together. The group brainstorms ideas, analyzes services, and proposes vectors. One or more participants drive the terminal on the projector.
• Guidance & Hints: Whenever we hit a wall, Mona serves as “game master,” offering subtle hints so the team stays on track without getting lost down rabbit holes.
• Strictly Simulations: Target systems come from specialized training platforms like HackTheBox and TryHackMe. We only attack simulations and never real, unauthorized systems!
• Deep System Understanding: Fully understanding and exploiting a vulnerability requires diving deep into Linux and Windows OS internals.

Special Topics & Hardware Hacking

Not every evening revolves solely around traditional Capture-The-Flag machines. Members frequently present deep-dives into special topics:

• Cryptography & Encryption
• Radio Protocols & SDR (Software Defined Radio)
• Hardware Hacking Tools like the Flipper Zero, BadUSBs, or RFID/NFC cloning

Open to Everyone – Including Beginners!

Everyone can and should participate! The topics can get very technical at times, and feeling lost momentarily is completely natural and part of the process. That’s why we explain every concept to one another, try different approaches, and make sure everyone understands the technique behind each exploit and defense.

Regular Meetups

• When: Every second Wednesday from 19:30
• Where: In the ZTL e.V. Meeting Room
• Schedule & Registration: Upcoming dates and free registrations can be found on our Pretix calendar and in the #ztl_vereins_termine channel on Mattermost.

Bring your laptop and join in!