Cybersecurity event series Black Hat has named investigative journalist Violet Blue and RunSybil CEO Ari Herbert-Voss as keynote speakers for Black Hat Asia 2026, set for April 23-24 at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.
The event will focus on fast-rising cyber risks in the Asia-Pacific region, including ransomware attacks, data privacy gaps, and the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in hacking. Organizers said the sessions will highlight how autonomous systems and privacy-first policies are changing how companies defend their data.
APAC economies are seeing increased cyberattacks as more services go digital, while regulations differ widely across countries. This creates challenges for businesses handling sensitive data across borders, particularly in finance, e-commerce, and government systems.
Blue’s keynote, “Privacy is the Captain. Security is the Practice,” will examine how data privacy rules are shifting globally. She will discuss how ideas like data ownership and user control are shaping new security strategies as older frameworks become outdated.
Herbert-Voss will present “From Prompt Tricks to Autonomous Hackers: The Rise of Agentic Offensive Security,” focusing on how AI-powered hacking tools have evolved in just three years. He will explain why traditional, one-time security testing is no longer enough, as attacks can now run continuously without human input.
Two main stage sessions will also address urgent security gaps. Dick O’Brien of Broadcom’s Symantec + Carbon Black Threat Hunter Team will discuss “Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver” or BYOVD attacks, now common in ransomware campaigns that disable security systems at a deep level.
Eoin Hinchy, CEO of Tines, will outline a framework for building secure workflows, warning that poorly implemented AI tools can create new vulnerabilities.
Registration for Black Hat Asia 2026 is now open, with more sessions expected to focus on AI security, data protection, and cyber defense strategies in the region.