So, you've got a knack for spotting security holes, and have been thinking about devoting your career to the field of security? What better way to show the world your supreme talents than jumping on the conference speaker band wagon! Before you do however, take note of these cautionary tales:

Thomas Dullien, a prominent security researcher who has been a fixture at the annual Black Hat security conference, was denied entry into the US on his way to this year's conference. Dullien said he was blocked from entering the US "for carrying trainings materials for the Blackhat trainings, and intending to hold these trainings as a private citizen instead of as a company." The ironic twist? Dullien claims that "the largest [number] of attendees are US government related folks, mostly working on US National Security in some form."

Next up is Christopher Boyd, Microsoft Security MVP and Director of Malware Research for FaceTime Security Labs. On a recent trip, Boyd discovered that his baggage had been inspected.  He describes the affair: "Admittedly, a suitcase containing shirts saying "Terrorist", "N.W.A" and "Hung Gar Kung Fu" is going to tick the "mad bomber", "black power" and "Crazy Kung Fu Communist" boxes for Homeland Security in one fell swoop, but I was surprised to find that, while a "Notice of Baggage Inspection" card had been desposited in my case, a "We're keepin sum stuff bai" card was strangely absent.Why? Oh, maybe because ALL OF MY UNDERWEAR IS MISSING.To the kinky freak running around in PG Pants, I hope they serve you well. But really, you could have just asked."

Cautionary tales indeed! If you're headed to a conference any time soon, don't forget to triple check your paper work in preparation for ridiculous and hyperbureaucratic U.S. border security, and be sure to arrive at your destination with a budget for missing under garments.