The program additionally encompasses entry to EC-Council’s Global CISO Forum 2026, broadening opportunities for peer networking and career growth
ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, September 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — EC-Council, the organization behind the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential and a worldwide leader advancing Cybersecurity and Responsible AI via its Adopt. Defend. Govern. (ADG) Framework, today declared that U.S. military and government cybersecurity professionals can receive complimentary admission to Hacker Halted 2026 and EC-Council’s Global CISO Forum 2026.
This offer is limited to conference admission; separate charges and eligibility criteria might apply to pre-conference training sessions and other optional activities.
Hacker Halted stands as EC-Council’s leading annual cybersecurity conference, assembling practitioners, researchers, executives, and technology experts around the newest advancements in both offensive and defensive security.
Scheduled for October 8-9 at The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, the 2026 event will center on the theme ‘Cyber Carnival: Where Illusion Meets Intrusion,’ investigating how deception, manipulation, AI, and emerging technologies are transforming the creation, detection, and defense against cyber threats.
Hacker Halted 2026 will include:
– More than 20 presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions tackling critical and emerging cybersecurity topics
– Two full days of practitioner networking and direct engagement throughout the cybersecurity community
– Technical viewpoints covering offensive security, threat intelligence, application security, AI and LLM security, security architecture, incident response, and enterprise cyber risk
– Cybersecurity experts and researchers from organizations such as Citi, Amazon, Microsoft, and Coupa Software
– Hands-on, practitioner-led conversations concentrating on the realities of safeguarding ever more complex digital environments
Expanding on Hacker Halted 2025, themed “Order from Chaos,” which aimed to bring greater clarity and structure to a more intricate and unpredictable threat landscape, the 2026 edition moves the discussion from managing chaos to seeing through deception. “Cyber Carnival: Where Illusion Meets Intrusion” puts a heavier emphasis on the judgment, curiosity, and critical thinking needed as AI and other technologies make digital interactions increasingly sophisticated.
“Cybersecurity professionals serving government and national defense operate in environments where trust, judgment and clarity are essential,” said Jay Bavisi, Founder & Group President, EC-Council. “As AI and emerging technologies make digital environments more sophisticated, bringing these professionals together with the broader practitioner community creates an important opportunity to exchange experience, sharpen thinking and strengthen how we collectively respond to what comes next.”
“The people serving in our military and government cybersecurity communities face complex, high-stakes challenges every day,” said Phil Lopez, Director, DoD/Military Affairs at EC-Council, Navy Master Chief (Ret), and CCISO Certified. “This initiative is about removing barriers and connecting them with practical education, trusted peers and the broader cybersecurity community. Their service strengthens all of us, and we want them in the room.”
Qualified director-level and above information security executives may also request approval to attend EC-Council’s Global CISO Forum 2026*.
EC-Council Global CISO Forum is an invite-only, closed-door gathering for C-suite and senior information security leaders from diverse industries and regions. Crafted for honest, peer-to-peer dialogue, the forum unites director-level and above security executives, CCISO professionals, and invited practitioners to address the most urgent cybersecurity challenges.
*Registration for EC-Council’s Global CISO Forum remains subject to eligibility and approval.
About EC-Council
Established in 2001, EC-Council is a global cybersecurity and AI organization committed to developing the skills, capabilities, and systems needed for a more secure digital future.
EC-Council pioneered the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program and has certified over 400,000 professionals across 174 countries. Its programs and credentials are utilized by government, defense, enterprise, and academic institutions worldwide.
As an ISO/IEC 17024 accredited certification body, EC-Council’s credentials are acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Defense under DoD Directive 8140 and are held by professionals within the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and leading global organizations.
As cybersecurity and AI converge, EC-Council is advancing Responsible AI through its proprietary Adopt. Defend. Govern. (ADG) Framework, integrating people, process, and technology to help organizations adopt AI responsibly, defend digital environments, and govern emerging technologies with greater accountability.
The EC-Council ecosystem encompasses EC-Council, EC-Council University (ECCU), CodeRed, EC-Council Global Services (EGS), EC-Council Academia, and Aware.
About Hacker Halted
Hacker Halted is EC-Council’s annual cybersecurity conference, gathering practitioners, researchers, executives, and technology leaders to explore the changing realities of offensive and defensive security.
The conference features technical presentations, panel discussions, breakout sessions, hands-on experiences, and practitioner exchange across areas such as threat intelligence, application security, AI and LLM security, incident response, security architecture, and enterprise cyber risk.
Each year, Hacker Halted revolves around a theme reflecting the shifting threat landscape and the challenges confronting modern defenders. The 2026 edition, “Cyber Carnival: Where Illusion Meets Intrusion,” explores how deception, manipulation, AI, and emerging technologies are reshaping the creation, detection, and defense of cyber threats.
For further details, visit hackerhalted.com
About EC-Council’s Global CISO Forum
EC-Council Global CISO Forum is an invite-only, closed-door event assembling the highest-level executives from various industries and countries to debate the most critical information security issues.
Invite-only and closed-door: attendance is limited to CCISO certification holders, CCISO students, EC-Council-invited security practitioners, and director-level or above information security executives; marketers and business development professionals are not permitted to attend.
Purpose: it functions as a strategic venue for peer-to-peer exchange and deep dialogue among the world’s C-suite and senior security leaders on the most pressing cybersecurity challenges. The closed-door nature specifically fosters an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality, enabling open sharing of lessons learned, failures, and forward-looking strategies.
Format: closed-door sessions, interactive discussions, and curated roundtables.
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