Lehack Experience

LeHack, one of the biggest cybersecurity events in Europe, had been on my radar for quite some time.

I had seen people talk about it, share experiences, and it always looked intense — CTFs, workshops, real hackers everywhere. So this year, I finally decided to go and see it for myself.

From the moment I arrived, you could feel the energy. It wasn’t just another tech event, it felt more alive, more raw.

You had people from all backgrounds — pentesters, researchers, beginners, curious minds… everyone there for the same reason: learn, challenge themselves, and share.

I spent a good part of my time in the workshops. One that really stood out to me was about IoT vulnerabilities.

Seeing how easily some devices can be exploited when security is neglected was honestly a bit scary. It’s one thing to read about it online, but watching it happen live, step by step, makes it very real.

That’s what I liked the most — it wasn’t just theory, it was practical, concrete, and directly connected to real-world scenarios.

Then of course, there was the CTF.

I joined a team for a few challenges, and yeah… the pressure hits fast. You’re trying things, failing, retrying, thinking differently — sometimes overthinking too.

But when something finally works, even a small part of the challenge, the feeling is hard to describe. It’s not just about solving it, it’s about understanding why it works.

The challenges were pretty diverse — web exploitation, crypto, logic puzzles — and that’s what makes it interesting. You’re constantly switching mindset, adapting, and learning on the fly.

Another moment that really stuck with me was the live hacking demos.

Watching someone break into a system in real time is always impressive, but also a bit unsettling. It reminds you that most systems are not as secure as we’d like to believe, and that understanding these weaknesses is essential.

But honestly, one of the best parts of the day was just talking to people.

Between sessions, during breaks, or just randomly, I had the chance to meet people with completely different levels and backgrounds. Some were very experienced, others just starting, but everyone was open to share.

We exchanged ideas, tools, resources… and that’s something you don’t really get from just learning online.

At the end of the day, I left with more than just notes or techniques.

I left with:

• new perspectives
• things I want to dig into
• and that feeling of “I still have a lot to learn” — but in a good way

LeHack is definitely something I’d recommend if you’re into cybersecurity.

Not just for the technical side, but for everything around it — the people, the mindset, the experience. It pushes you a bit out of your comfort zone, and that’s exactly what makes it worth it.