On this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we revisit the 2025 predictions shared by our guests throughout the year.

From attackers and defenders to AI and the broader security industry, these forecasts capture what experts expected was coming next. Rather than judging accuracy - which is still too early to assess -we're examining the predictions themselves: where they aligned, how they clustered, and what those patterns reveal about the industry’s mindset as this year came to a close. Free from hindsight bias, this episode explores what remained uncertain as we entered 2026.

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This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastructure for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io.

On this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast we speak with Rebekah Skeete, Executive Director and CEO of BlackGirlsHack Foundation. Rebekah dives into how BGH is helping to increase diversity in cybersecurity by bridging the gap between what is taught in educational institutions and what is necessary for careers in cybersecurity.

For more information visit: https://www.blackgirlshack.org/Home

Rebekah Skeete is a Security Engineer with Schellman based in Dallas, Texas. As a member of the Infrastructure and Security team, Rebekah is part of a collaborative group of technology professionals serving as the primary technical resource to safeguard the organization's computer networks and systems. In her role, she is responsible for planning and carrying out security measures to monitor and protect sensitive data and systems from infiltration and cyber-attacks.

Prior to joining Schellman in 2022, Rebekah worked for the Texas Rangers in a myriad of roles, including Cybersecurity Analyst and Manager of IT Applications and Operations. During the construction of the Rangers new state-of-the-art ballpark, Globe Life Field, Rebekah assisted the Rangers IT department’s efforts to transition over 200 front office employees to their new workspaces.

Outside baseball and IT, Rebekah is also interested in politics and started volunteering for campaigns in 2008. From 2013-2016, she served as a Campaign Manager in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 2015, she attended the Women’s Campaign School at Yale.

Rebekah is the COO of BlackGirlsHack, a nonprofit organization providing black women with resources, training, mentoring, and access to increase representation and diversity in the cybersecurity field. Committed to inclusion and belonging, she holds the firm belief that representation enhances the culture and community of an organization and seeks to amplify underserved voices at any table she has a seat.

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This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastructure for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we discuss some intel being shared in the LimaCharlie community.

For for more information about Cybersecurity Cares, visit cybersecurity-cares.com

• React2Shell is the latest high-profile vulnerability in the web application landscape, scoring a critical CVSS 10.0 and drawing immediate comparisons to Log4Shell.
• Researchers at Noma Labs disclosed a critical vulnerability in Google's Gemini Enterprise AI assistant, dubbed GeminiJack, that allowed attackers to stealthily exfiltrate sensitive enterprise data.
• U.S. prosecutors have charged Victoria Eduardovna Dubranova, a 33‑year‑old Ukrainian woman, in two separate indictments for her alleged involvement with pro‑Russia hacktivist groups CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn and NoName057(16).
• A China-aligned threat actor identified as Warp Panda has been linked to recent compromises of VMware vCenter environments at U.S.-based organizations, according to a new report from CrowdStrike. Original CrowdStrike article. CISA BRICKSTORM Backdoor breakdown. Analysis report.

Support our show by sharing your favorite episodes with a friend, subscribe, give us a rating or leave a comment on your podcast platform.

This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastructure for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io.