Boston Security Meetup

Who Are We, What Are We, Why Are We Doing This?
The Boston area has one of the most diverse information security ecosystems in the world.

We understand that the current community has several various meetups/events and expect some skepticism, so let us tell you what we are about:

• We are putting this together for Hackers & Information Security professionals to have a safe place to come meet like-minded people, share cool ideas, and discuss real issues.
• Our events are not a place for sales, recruiting, fundraising, or political campaigns.  We will politely ask anyone that engages in this behavior to leave (this includes sponsors), unless we have an event specifically designed to engage those relevant parties (e.g., a recruiting event). 
• Content starts at 7PM, with doors opening at 6:30PM to socialize. Content will be in the form of lightning talks (10-20 minutes), with breaks to meet and chat in-between.  We aim for content to conclude between 8:15 and 8:30 PM, but will just go with the flow.
• Content will be driven by the community.  We also remember that a big part of these events is to bring the community together, so lightning talks are preferred.  This will not be a place that you come after work to watch people lecture at you for three hours. Contact the organizers if you wanna do talk or have content ideas!

• RSVPs are required. And as of May 2026 we have instituted a no-show policy. TL;DR is, if you no-show (unexcused absence) 3 times then we will have to regrettably remove you from the members list, no exceptions. The reason why we have such a rule is due to a number of reasons. We've gotten bigger and more popular. Every event is "sold out" within 48hrs, however, some folks do not update their RSVP status even when their plans change and this is causing you to take a seat away from a person who would otherwise be there. Additionally, when people do not show this also contributes to a lot of wasted food as well.
If you want to be in good standing going forward, here are some tips:
- If your plans change please update your RSVP more than 48 hrs before the event so that another person from the wait-list can take your spot.
- You are allowed to you change your RSVP less than 48 hrs prior to the event in case of emergencies, however, understand that we cannot move wait-listed folks to the "going" list at that point. And if you do this too many times we will start counting them as no-shows as well.
- When you RSVP to our events you are agreeing to all the rules and bylaws published in our Code of Conduct.

• If you would like to submit a talk for speaking please fill out the details at https://forms.gle/eqFV9RQz5uefnmqY6
• For any queries or general feedback/suggestions please email us at boston.secmeetup@gmail.com

Want to sponsor an upcoming BSM event or make an individual contribution?
Please see our campaign located here https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/sponsor-boston-security-meetup

Code of Conduct - Adapted from DEF CON's CoC Page.
Boston Security Meetup (BSM) provides a forum for open discussion between participants, where radical viewpoints are welcome and a high degree of skepticism is expected. However, insulting or harassing other participants is unacceptable. We want BSM to be a safe and productive environment for everyone. It’s not about what you look like but what’s in your mind and how you present yourself that counts at BSM.
We do not condone harassment against any participant, for any reason. Harassment includes deliberate intimidation and targeting individuals in a manner that makes them feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or afraid.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. We reserve the right to respond to harassment in the manner we deem appropriate, including but not limited to expulsion and referral to the relevant authorities.
This Code of Conduct applies to everyone participating at BSM - from attendees and exhibitors to speakers, press, volunteers, and Organizers.
Anyone can report harassment. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, you can contact an Organizer.

Remember: The Meetup is what you make of it, and as a community we can create a great experience for everyone.

(BSM is not in any way affiliated with DEF CON or any of its subsidiaries. Original copy of their CoC can be found at https://defcon.org/html/links/dc-code-of-conduct.html)