Code of Conduct

Guild Con 2025 and Hackers Guild Pittsburgh are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all participants, whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in cybersecurity.

Our Commitment

We are committed to providing a harassment-free conference and community experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), technology choices, or skill level.

We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants or community members in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks, workshops, CTF competition, parties, Discord, social media, and other online or offline spaces.

Expected Behavior

All Guild Con participants and Hackers Guild Pittsburgh community members are expected to:

• Be respectful and inclusive in speech and actions
• Welcome newcomers and help them feel included
• Share knowledge freely and constructively
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech
• Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants
• Alert conference organizers if you notice violations of this Code of Conduct
• Respect the venue (2247 Babcock Blvd) and its property
• Follow all applicable laws and venue policies
• Practice responsible disclosure for any vulnerabilities discovered
• Respect others' systems and data - hack responsibly and ethically

Unacceptable Behavior

The following behaviors are considered harassment and are unacceptable:

• Verbal or written abuse, threats, or intimidation
• Discriminatory jokes, language, or imagery
• Unwelcome sexual attention or advances
• Personal insults related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, or skill level
• Inappropriate physical contact without consent
• Stalking or following
• Disruption of talks, workshops, or CTF competition
• Unauthorized access to others' systems or data
• Sharing of malicious code or exploits intended to harm
• Doxxing or sharing others' private information
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

CTF Competition Specific Rules

• No attacking conference infrastructure or other teams' machines
• No denial of service attacks
• No sharing flags or solutions during the competition
• Respect the game - compete fairly and honestly
• Help teammates but don't sabotage others

Consequences

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including:

• Warning the offender
• Expulsion from the conference without refund
• Disqualification from the CTF competition
• Ban from Hackers Guild Pittsburgh community spaces (Discord, future events)
• Prohibition from future Guild Con events
• Reporting to appropriate authorities if laws have been broken

Reporting Incidents

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff or Hackers Guild leadership immediately.

How to Report

• In Person: Find any staff member wearing a Guild Con 2025 shirt or badge
• Email: [email protected]
• Discord: DM any admin or moderator in the Hackers Guild Pittsburgh Discord
• Phone: Conference hotline (number provided at registration)
• Registration Desk: Visit the registration desk at the venue

Conference staff and community moderators will be happy to help participants contact venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference and in our community spaces.

Scope

This Code of Conduct applies to all Guild Con 2025 and Hackers Guild Pittsburgh spaces, including but not limited to:

• Conference sessions and workshops
• CTF competition area
• Networking areas and breaks
• Social events and after-parties
• Hackers Guild Pittsburgh Discord server
• Online spaces (social media, chat platforms)
• The venue at 2247 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA
• Any location where Guild Con or Hackers Guild activities take place

Our Philosophy

At Hackers Guild Pittsburgh, we believe in the hacker ethic: sharing knowledge, helping others learn, and using our skills to make the world better and more secure. We're building a community where everyone - from curious beginners to seasoned professionals - can learn, grow, and contribute.

Remember: we're all here to learn, share, and have fun. Let's keep it respectful, inclusive, and awesome for everyone!