convention and DEF is taken from the letters on the number 3 on a telephone keypad, a reference to phreakers. The official name of the conference includes a space in between DEF and CON.

Though intended to be a one-time event, Moss received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, and decided to host the event for a second year at their urging. The event's attendance nearly doubled the second year, and has enjoyed continued success. For example, in 2019,