0x16 Wellington Meetup at KPMG on Is Windows Defender Enough?

We’re excited to bring another interactive Hack the Box (HTB) meetup to Wellington! Our speaker for this event is Zachary McManus from Layer 9 who will be presenting the talk: "Is Windows Defender Enough?".

Do you use Microsoft Defender Antivirus? Chances are you probably do How does it work? Is it effective? Do I need a third-party AV solution? Am I safe?

Zachary's talk will help you answer these questions, and dive into ways that threat actors can get around Defender's detection mechanisms.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• A presentation on the topic mentioned prior.
• A hands-on, guided walk through to solve a Hack The Box machine yourself.

WHAT YOU GET

• FREE HTB SWAG/GIVEAWAYS
• FREE access to HTB machines during the event

WHAT YOU NEED

• A laptop
• A HTB account
• Discord application

HOUSE RULES

• Follow all rules and guidelines in the HTB TOS: HTB Terms of Service
• Active HTB content cannot be shared publicly. Retired challenges or machines are fair game.

EVENT DETAILS

• Date: Tuesday, 27th January 2026
• Time: 5:30 PM (NZDT)
• Location: KPMG - Level 6, 44 Bowen Street, Wellington
• Attendee limit: 25 + speakers, and hosts.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Join our Discord for event updates

CODE OF CONDUCT
We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all attendees. To ensure a positive experience for everyone, the following behaviors are strictly prohibited:

• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Any form of discrimination or racism
• Any other forms of misconduct

Any attendee found engaging in these behaviours will be immediately banned and permanently removed from the group. Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and enjoyable atmosphere for all.