Over Half of DEFCON CTF Hackers Now Using AI Coding Assistants
dyn___ · x · 2026-08-10
A security researcher observed at the DEFCON CTF competition that over 50% of participants are using AI coding assistants like Codex or Claude Code for tasks, while almost no one is using traditional reverse engineering tools like IDA. The author notes that in less than a year, AI has rapidly transformed hacking methods and efficiency. While this irreversible shift allows hackers to go farther and faster, there is a sense of sadness in seeing traditional skills fade away.
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