Editing PhreakNIC (section)

{{For|the spring break festival|Freaknik}}

'''PhreakNIC''' is an annual [[hacker con|hacker and technology convention]] held in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. It is organized by the [[2600 The Hacker Quarterly|Nashville 2600 Organization]] and draws upon resources from  SouthEastern 2600 (se2600).  The Nashville [[Linux User Group]] was closely tied with PhreakNIC for the first 10 years, but is no longer an active participant in the planning.  First held in 1997, PhreakNIC continues to be a long-time favorite among [[Hacker (computer security)|hackers]], security experts and technology enthusiasts. PhreakNIC currently holds claim as the oldest regional hacker con and is one of the few hacker cons run by a 501(c)(3) tax-free [[Charitable organization|charity]]. The conference attracts about 350 attendees.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/services/content/health/stories/2009/06/30/yoo_and_the_city_hackers.html|title=YOO & the City: Computer hackers unite! Not that that's a bad thing|author=Yoo, Charles|work=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=June 30, 2009|accessdate=November 6, 2011}}</ref>

PhreakNIC consists of presentations on a variety of technical subjects, sometimes related to a conference theme. There is also a film room showing [[anime]] and technology-related videos from popular culture. The [[Nashville Linux Users Group]] held a Linux [[Installfest]] from PhreakNIC 3 through PhreakNIC X.

PhreakNIC is attended by hackers and other technology enthusiasts from across the United States, although, as a regional conference, most of its attendees come from a two-state radius around Tennessee, including groups from [[Missouri]], [[Ohio]], [[Washington, DC]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Kentucky]], and [[Alabama]].

As PhreakNIC has been held in downtown Nashville, near the [[Tennessee Titans]] stadium, the exact date for PhreakNIC was previously not announced each year until the [[NFL]] released its schedule in April.  PhreakNIC is intentionally scheduled not to coincide with a Titans home game, to give conference organizers full reign over the venue.  However, PhreakNIC is typically held around the time of [[Halloween]].