MacArthur Foundation ‘genius award’ fellowship recipient among featured speakers at 2026 UC Cybersecurity Conference

Registration is now open for the 2026 UC Cybersecurity Summit: Resilient Together, taking place virtually on October 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and on October 7, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (PT).

Building on the success of past virtual Summits, the UC Cybersecurity Summit Planning Team is excited to once again offer a diverse lineup of engaging speakers and discussions on timely topics. Among them is Safiya U. Noble, Ph.D., whose 2018 book, “Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism,” sparked a national conversation about algorithmic discrimination in internet search engines and earned her a MacArthur “genius” fellowship. 

Check out the featured sessions below and register to join us (using your work email)!

Featured sessions

Securing Your Online Presence
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn about today’s biggest online threats, and simple habits you can adopt to protect your sensitive information and digital identity.
— Featuring Caitlin Sarian (aka Cybersecurity Girl). a worldwide cybersecurity educator and influencer

Artificial Intelligence and Defending Large Networks
AI is reshaping how bad actors can find and exploit vulnerabilities in networks for cyberattacks. Learn how you can defend and prepare your organization for this emerging threat landscape. 
— Featuring Alex Stamos, chief security officer, Corridor; Stanford lecturer; former CSO at Facebook and Yahoo

AI and Our Future: How Artificial Intelligence and Search Engine Algorithms Reinforce Oppression
Discover how the digital technologies we use embed racial, gender, class and political biases that cause a range of issues, from marginalization to violations of fundamental rights. 
— Featuring Safiya Noble, Ph.D., David O. Sears presidential endowed chair of social sciences, professor of gender studies, African American studies and information studies, UCLA; director, UCLA DataX-Data Justice MacArthur Foundation “genius” award recipient
— Moderator: Ronise Zenon, information systems analyst, UC San Diego

Deepfake Diaries: The Latest AI-Based Attacks and How to Protect Yourself from AI Scams
Experience real-life examples of video and audio deepfakes that attackers have used to steal sensitive information and learn the latest techniques for identifying and defending against AI-generated scams. 
— Featuring Kerry Tomlinson, cyber news reporter, Ampyx News 

Fraud: Aging & Retirement Security
Older adults are prime targets for scammers, losing more money per incident than any other age group. Learn what cybersecurity professionals can do to protect their retirement resources. 
— Featuring Marti DeLiema, associate professor, University of Minnesota 

Federal Rules, California Rights: Understanding Privacy and Security
Learn the key differences between privacy and security, and how federal and state laws affect your personal information, individual rights and available protections. — Featuring Melonie White – digital risk governance, analytics and advisory services manager, UCOP

Preparing UCLA for the 2028 Olympics: Cybersecurity at the Intersection of Public Safety, Research and Critical Infrastructure
Go inside UCLA’s strategy for strengthening visibility, governance and incident response to stay resilient against heightened cyber threats while preparing to host the 2028 Olympics, a public, high-profile event— Featuring Caesar Sedek, assistant chief information security officer, UCLA 

Additional resources

• Bookmark the Cybersecurity Summit page to keep up with the latest updates. 
• Join the Cybersecurity Summit mailing list using your UC email address. 

For questions, contact the UC Cybersecurity Summit Planning Team.