Keren Elazari: Cybersecurity Expert

Keren Elazari is a globally recognized cybersecurity expert, researcher, and TED speaker who transforms hacker insights into strategies for resilience, innovation, and digital defense.

Highlights:
  • Delivered TED Talk viewed millions of times in 30+ languages
  • Advises Fortune 500 companies, governments, and global organizations
  • Researcher at Tel Aviv University and faculty at Singularity University
  • Founder of BSidesTLV, Israel’s largest security community event
  • Published author and contributor to leading industry outlets

Formats:

Keynote speaker (45–60 minutes)


Audience:

Executives, business leaders, IT professionals, security teams, and policy makers.


Outcomes:
  1. Gain insider insights into hacker mindsets and tactics.
  2. Learn strategies to strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
  3. Understand how hacking culture drives innovation in technology.
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
  • **Fee range: On Request

Keynote Topics

  • Cyber Security in the Covid-19 Era
  • The Age of Cyber Warfare
  • The Future of Cyber Security from A friendly Hacker’s Perspective
  • Tap Into The Hacker Mindset
  • Learning Innovation Lessons From Hackers

Talent Short Bio

Keren Elazari is an internationally acclaimed cybersecurity analyst, researcher, and keynote speaker whose work has shaped global understanding of hacking culture and digital security. A former hacker herself, she brings unparalleled insider knowledge to her advisory roles with governments, Fortune 500 companies, and leading organizations worldwide.

Her 2014 TED Talk, Hackers: The Internet’s Immune System, reached millions across 30+ languages, positioning her as one of the most influential voices in cybersecurity. Based in Tel Aviv, Keren is a faculty member at Singularity University, a researcher at Tel Aviv University’s Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center, and founder of BSidesTLV, Israel’s largest security community event.

She has published in leading outlets, co-authored Women in Tech, and spoken on premier stages like DEFCON, RSA, and Black Hat. Her engaging, research-driven talks empower audiences to rethink hackers not just as threats but as catalysts for innovation and resilience in the digital age.

Keren Elazari is a leading global cybersecurity analyst, researcher, and keynote speaker, widely regarded for her deep understanding of the hacking world and its impact on modern security. As a former hacker turned thought leader, Keren brings a unique perspective to the cybersecurity industry, advising governments, Fortune 500 companies, and top global organizations on how to protect their digital assets in an increasingly dangerous online environment.

Since her groundbreaking TED Talk in 2014, Hackers: The Internet’s Immune System, Keren has become one of the most sought-after speakers in the cybersecurity space, captivating audiences with her engaging and insightful approach to internet safety and hacking culture. Her passion for security, combined with her commitment to empowering others through education, makes her a driving force in the industry.

Keren Elazari’s expertise in cybersecurity is built on years of hands-on experience and research in the hacking community. As a former hacker, she has an insider’s perspective on the motivations, tactics, and techniques used by cybercriminals. This background allows her to provide audiences with unique insights into how hackers think and operate, giving businesses and organizations a tactical advantage when it comes to defending against cyberattacks.

Keren has held key roles advising major companies and governments on internet safety, cybersecurity strategy, and how to develop more resilient security frameworks. She is also a researcher at the Tel Aviv University Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center and a faculty member at Singularity University, where she contributes to the development of cutting-edge cybersecurity education. Her deep understanding of hacking culture and how it influences today’s digital landscape sets her apart as a true authority on cybersecurity.

Beyond her direct involvement in cybersecurity, Keren has co-authored the book Women in Tech and contributed to major industry publications. She has spoken at major conferences, including DEFCON, RSA, and Black Hat, where her experience as both a former hacker and a leading analyst allows her to connect deeply with both technical and non-technical audiences.

As the founder of BSidesTLV, Israel’s largest security community event, Keren has cultivated a thriving platform for cybersecurity professionals to share ideas and insights. Her work has influenced cybersecurity policy at the highest levels, including collaborations with government agencies and international corporations. Keren’s combination of research, real-world experience, and global influence makes her one of the most trusted voices in cybersecurity today.

Keren Elazari is an internationally acclaimed cybersecurity expert, speaker, and researcher who brings a wealth of experience to the stage. Her unique background as a former hacker combined with her vast knowledge of the cybersecurity landscape allows her to offer audiences unparalleled insights into the world of cyber threats. Keren’s passion for empowering others through cybersecurity education makes her an invaluable resource for businesses, governments, and security professionals worldwide.

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on  LinkedIn

Talent Videos

SIX on Cybersecurity Keynote: Attackers as the Best Defense | Keren Elazari, Zurich

Live keynote from SIX in Zurich. Keren Elazari shows how hacker thinking, bug bounties, and collaborative defense turn fast-moving cyber threats into enterprise resilience.

Summary

Keren Elazari reframes attackers as the engine that hardens our digital world. She opens with a real incident at Starbucks Argentina, where a 10-second Wi-Fi delay quietly ran Coinhive JavaScript to mine Monero on visitors’ laptops. The point is not the code but the business model thinking adversaries apply, which organizations must anticipate.

She traces her path from curious teen hacker to researcher, then surveys today’s attack surface: an exploding universe of connected devices that can be hijacked for DDoS and abuse of core protocols. Mirai exemplifies how default credentials and weak IoT baselines can fuel global disruption. Even “benign” smart tech becomes an exfiltration route, as with a casino’s internet-connected aquarium sensors that attackers used as a data tunnel. She flags Shodan as a mirror for defenders to see their own exposed assets.

Shifting to criminal monetization, she explains ransomware’s enterprise-grade playbook, from hospital extortion to the WannaCry wave and the NHS impact. Attributing campaigns is murky. EternalBlue’s leak and Shadow Brokers show how nation-grade exploits blend into criminal kits. NotPetya illustrates collateral damage when a compromised software update in Ukraine became a wiper that halted operations far beyond the initial target, underscoring supply-chain risk and business continuity stakes.

Elazari argues that obsession with “who did it” distracts from readiness. The better questions: when it will hit your ecosystem, how you will detect it, and how you will respond. She outlines practical moves: share incident intelligence, invest in digital forensics and incident response, and build everyday security decisions into culture. Most crucially, collaborate with friendly hackers through red teaming and bug bounties. Tesla’s public challenges and the U.S. “Hack the Pentagon” program demonstrate the speed and value of open engagement. Looking ahead, automation and ML will shape both attack and defense, evidenced by DARPA’s Cyber Grand Challenge bots. Her call to action: embrace hacker collaboration and AI-enabled defense to evolve faster than adversaries.

Key Moments

00:00 Opening and host intro in Zurich. Theme: why attacker creativity matters.
01:10 Starbucks Argentina Wi-Fi delay and Coinhive cryptomining example.
03:30 Takeaway: adversaries invent business models, not just exploits.
04:45 Personal journey from teen hacker to security researcher and speaker.
06:20 Expanding attack surface and IoT realities.
07:30 Mirai DDoS and default-credential risk.
09:10 Casino aquarium sensor as data exfil path.
10:05 Using Shodan to see exposed devices.
11:00 Ransomware economics and hospital case study.
13:00 WannaCry impact and lessons for enterprises.
15:10 Attribution limits, EternalBlue leak, Shadow Brokers.
17:20 NotPetya supply-chain origins and global collateral damage.
20:10 Business fallout and continuity risks across industries.
22:00 Focus shift: not “who” but “when, how detected, what next.”
23:20 Practical moves: intel sharing, DFIR investment, security culture.
25:00 Outsider perspective, red teaming, and penetration tests.
27:10 Bug bounty programs, Tesla’s hacker engagement.
29:10 Hack the Pentagon results and lessons.
30:40 Building the future workforce, kids and community programs.
32:10 Girl Scouts cybersecurity badge and inclusion.
33:20 DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge and “Mayhem.”
35:00 Humans vs. machines and the role of automation.
36:20 Final framework for collaborative, AI-enabled defense.
37:40 Closing call to action.

Keren Elazari sizzle reel that argues we need hackers, shows real-world stakes of cyber conflict, and invites leaders to build resilient defense.

Summary

This short reel frames the tension between fear of hackers and the value of their choices on society. Keren notes more than 14 years in cybersecurity across Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and security vendors. She argues that we actually need hackers because they can act like an immune system for the Information Age, forcing companies to fix products and exposing systemic weaknesses.

The clip highlights cyber as a frontier for conflict where small amounts of code can disrupt physical infrastructure at a distance, reshaping world affairs. Keren urges that cybersecurity is too important to leave only to governments or the military; it requires community, curiosity, and ongoing practice. Security is presented as a journey powered by geeks discovering a superpower. The close challenges viewers not to fight all hackers blindly, but to channel that energy toward defense and to prepare now for a future that has already arrived.

Key Moments

00:00 Fear and fascination with hacker power; their choices affect us all.
00:10 Keren’s credentials and scope of work across sectors.
00:23 “We need hackers” as the immune system of the Information Age.
00:32 Lawbreaking vs. forcing product fixes to protect users.
00:42 Cyber as a new frontier for conflict and policy stakes.
00:53 “Fifteen thousand lines of code” can disrupt physical infrastructure remotely.
01:03 Cybersecurity cannot be left solely to governments or generals.
01:12 Security is a journey; geeks gain a constructive superpower.
01:26 Do not fight all hackers blindly; channel the power you cannot control.
01:35 “The future is already here.” Challenge: will you be able to save it?
01:41 End.

In this 10-minute interview at Europe’s leading cybersecurity forum, Keren Elazari explains ransomware economics, cyber conflicts, and how bug bounty programs empower friendly hackers.

Summary

Filmed at Les Assises in Monaco, this 2017 interview highlights the rapid rise in cyberattacks and why ransomware became a global epidemic. Keren Elazari attributes the spike to two drivers: criminals discovering reliable revenue streams in ransomware, and governments engaging in covert cyber warfare that spills into public view. She references attacks on Equifax, Deloitte, and the NHS to show the wide-ranging impact.

Discussing WannaCry and NotPetya, she suggests ransomware waves may serve as smokescreens for deeper campaigns, while also influencing Bitcoin’s rising value. Cyberattacks, she explains, can be both a revenue model and a geopolitical tool.

Elazari advocates that cybersecurity cannot be left to politicians and generals alone. Individuals and organizations must practice “cyber hygiene,” share intelligence, and engage with friendly hackers. She stresses that bug bounty programs from companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, as well as Hack the Pentagon, demonstrate how collaborative security works in practice.

Her conclusion is that bug bounties disrupt underground markets by offering hackers legitimate ways to profit from their skills. Instead of selling zero-days on the dark web, hackers can earn substantial rewards—sometimes $30,000–$50,000 per vulnerability—while making global systems safer.

Key Moments

00:00 – Opening at Les Assises Monaco; cyberattacks surge 164% in 2017.
00:40 – Why attacks are spiking: ransomware and covert cyber warfare.
02:00 – Ransomware explained; global epidemic and devastating scale.
03:15 – Nation-state cyber weapons leaked, reused by criminals.
04:00 – Should there be a Geneva Convention for cyber? Debate ongoing.
05:00 – WannaCry and NotPetya: smokescreens, deception, and Bitcoin’s rise.
06:30 – Cybersecurity impacts elections, hospitals, and infrastructure.
07:15 – Friendly hackers as allies; bug bounties with Google, Facebook, Microsoft.
08:00 – Hack the Pentagon: first bug report within 13 minutes.
08:45 – Criminals already exploit bugs; bug bounties create legal alternatives.
09:20 – Disrupting dark web markets; bug hunters can earn $30K–$50K per find.
09:50 – Closing: bug bounties turn hacking skills into careers that make society safer.

Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry

Speaker Contact Form

Enquiry Form

Talent FAQ's

Cybersecurity strategy, hacker mindset, cyber warfare, innovation lessons from hackers, and the future of digital defense.

Tel Aviv, Israel. She is available for international engagements.

Talent Resources

Talent resources available for download

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links
  • Music List
  • Podcast Shows
  • Courses
  • + more

Talent FAQ

Cybersecurity strategy, hacker mindset, cyber warfare, innovation lessons from hackers, and the future of digital defense.

Tel Aviv, Israel. She is available for international engagements.

View further speakers

  • (65)
Alexandra-Carter-2

Alexandra Carter is a Clinical Professor of Law and the Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School. In 2019, Professor Carter was awarded the Columbia University Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, Columbia’s highest teaching honor. Her first book, Ask for More: Ten Questions to Negotiate Anything, was published by Simon & Schuster on […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Negotiation Speakers
  • (18)
Margaret Brennan

Margaret Brennan has reported on politics, international affairs, and global markets for nearly two decades. Currently the moderator of CBS News’ Face the Nation and the network’s senior foreign affairs correspondent, she is one of the most visible faces in political news today and only the second-ever female host of the 63-year-old program. Brennan focuses […]

  • Travels from: Washington, DC
  • Journalism Speakers
  • (10)
Julie Austin

Julie Austin is an award-winning author, inventor, futurist, innovation speaker, and member of the World Future Society. She’s an internationally known thought leader on the topic of innovation, and CEO of the consulting firm Creative Innovation Group. She’s been an innovation keynote speaker for corporations such as Procter & Gamble, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Northrop Grumman, and […]

  • Travels from: Fort Worth. TX
  • Futurists Speakers
  • (43)
Joseph Teti

Joseph Teti is a name synonymous with excellence and resilience in the realm of special operations. With a distinguished career spanning decades, Teti has emerged as a highly decorated combat veteran, renowned for his expertise and unwavering commitment to duty. From the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to other global hotspots, Teti’s journey exemplifies the […]

  • Travels from: Charlotte, NC
  • Military Speakers
  • (47)
  • Featured
  • (1)

Vanessa Aguilar, widely known as DJ Mizz V, is a powerhouse entertainer who has electrified the Las Vegas music scene with her unparalleled talent, dynamic stage presence, and infectious energy. Renowned for her ability to create unforgettable experiences through music, Mizz V has become one of the most sought-after DJs in Las Vegas and beyond. […]

  • Travels from: Las Vegas, NV
  • Mobile DJ
  • (43)

Ross Shafer is one of the most sought after keynote speakers and seminar leaders on the subjects of Customer Urgency and Empathy, Personal Motivation, Reinvention, and Market Relevance. He has authored nine business books yet also won international stand-up comedy competitions. He’s earned six TV Emmys as a network talk and game show host yet […]

  • Travels from: Lone Tree, CO
  • Motivational Speakers
  • (25)
  • (3)
Nikki Greenberg

Nikki Greenberg is a globally renowned real estate futurist whose insights are revolutionizing the way we think about the urban landscapes of tomorrow. As a leading authority in real estate innovation, she combines a profound understanding of emerging trends with a forward-thinking vision to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the cities of the future. […]

  • Travels from: New York, NY
  • Futurists Speakers
  • (11)
Steve Gutzler

Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle based Leadership Development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly sought after speaker who has delivered over 2500 presentations, to a who’s who list of clients including, Pandora Radio, Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, U.S. Security Administration, and Oxford Financial to name just a few. […]

  • Travels from: Seattle, WA
  • Emotional Intelligence
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.