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Reporter Flees Geek Summit

Hacker conference chews up, spits out TV producer

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 5, 2007 7:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Tech blogs are abuzz with reports of an NBC producer who attempted to infiltrate an annual hackers' conference and had the tables turned on her. Michelle Madigan of "Dateline"—the show that gave the world "To Catch a Predator"—arrived packing a hidden camera and fled after convention organizers lured her into a trap, ZDNet reports.

Madigan, who had refused offers of official press credentials, found herself in a packed room when a Defcon 2007 staffer started a “spot the undercover reporter” game and warned that she was trying to tape hackers on the sly. Wired reports that Madigan's cover was blown in true "Spy vs. Spy" fashion—a "Dateline" mole gave conference organizers her photo.

Colin Karpfinger, left, sets up computer controlled Airsoft guns as he prepares for a DefconBots contest at the Defcon 15 hacker convention held at the Riviera hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007.  (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Colin Karpfinger, left, sets up computer controlled Airsoft guns as he prepares for a DefconBots contest at the Defcon 15 hacker convention held at the Riviera hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Saturday, Aug....   (Associated Press)
Members of hacking team Our wives are pissed compete in the Capture the Flag contest at the Defcon 15 hacker convention held at the Riviera hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Friday, Aug. 3, 2007.  (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Members of hacking team "Our wives are pissed" compete in the Capture the Flag contest at the Defcon 15 hacker convention held at the Riviera hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Friday, Aug. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Jae...   (Associated Press)
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