We're excited to report a great response to our inaugural Defcon 18 Getaway Contest since we announced it two weeks ago. Seventy-one participants have raised over $1900 so far!

Registration is still open, and the contest is still very much up for grabs! Current first place team Holy Handgrenades is sitting pretty at $575, with individual contestants Evan Keiser at second place with $65 and Robert Rowley at third place with $25. The pool of fabulous prizes is still within your reach!

Big thanks to Ninja Networks and Friends for sponsoring the contest and raising over $1200; however, contestants please note that its team has declared themselves ineligible for the prize package, leaving the contest wide open. Form a team; put a badge up on your blog; ask your friends and family -- there are lots of ways to help EFF and compete for the prizes. (See Official Rules for full details).

EFF is also thrilled to announce that security firms iSEC Partners and IOActive have joined us to sponsor the Defcon Getaway Contest! We're grateful for their support of the contest and EFF's Coders' Rights Project.

iSEC Partners is a proven full-service security consulting firm that provides penetration testing, secure systems development, security education and software design verification. iSEC Partners' security assessments leverage our extensive knowledge of current security vulnerabilities, penetration techniques and software development best practices to enable customers to secure their applications against ever-present threats on the Internet.

Established in 1998, IOActive is an industry leader that offers comprehensive computer security services with specializations in smart grid technologies, software assurance, and compliance. Boasting a well-rounded and diverse clientele, IOActive works with a majority of Global 500 companies including power and utility, hardware, retail, financial, media, router, aerospace, high-tech, and software development organizations.

Stay tuned for more developments and updates regarding EFF's Defcon Getaway Contest. If you haven't already registered, what are you waiting for? Click here, and see you in Vegas!