Hi there!
I'm Sana Talwar
A cybersecurity enthusiast, teacher, and women in tech advocate.
Digital Introduction for Myself
Welcome! I'm passionate about building secure technology and creating pathways for the next generation of security professionals. Join me on this journey as I explore the intersection of security, AI, and education to build a more secure and equitable tech future.
Speaking History
DEFCON Community Village
Once Upon a Prompt: Fairytales that explain AI security
Sharing how stories like Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, and the Trojan Horse can make prompt injection and AI attacks easier to understand, whether you’re new to AI security or have been in the field for years.
Lovable SheBuilds Webinar
Secure Builds in 48 Hours
Last year, I built a full-stack app in 48 hours with Lovable. No code written. Frontend, backend, auth, database — just vibes.
Then I had to think about what I actually built. Fast builds come with real security gaps. AI optimizes for "works," not for "won't get you breached."
Watch replay: here
Gusto Lightening Talk
Once Upon A Prompt: Real Stories of AI Exploitation
Prompt injections — how attackers hijack AI systems by hiding instructions in the data the model reads.
Planet CyberSecAI
Prompt Injections 101: When Words Become Exploits
As AI systems act on external data, prompt injection lets attackers manipulate behavior from within, not by breaking in, but by embedding instructions in trusted inputs.
This talk covers real-world cases (Copilot RCE, Slack AI data exfiltration, RAG attacks) and maps them to OWASP LLM Top 10 and NIST AI RMF, with practical guidance for threat modeling and defense.
AMA Cyber: Inside RSAC
CyberMaterial
A real and necessary conversation for the cybersecurity community, and one we should all be paying attention to.
Watch replay: here
Breaking into Cyber Security
A conversation with Wake Up X Solutions at the RSA Conference 2026
→ Watch replay: here
Podcast with Cloudanix
Product Security Tips, Third Party Reviews, and AI-Driven Security Risks
Security shouldn't be a "roadblock"—it should be a product feature.
You can watch here: Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
Cyberjutsu Unplugged 2026
Prompt Injections 101: When Words Become Exploits
Here's what everyone building or buying AI tools needs to know:
→ Prompt injection is #1 on OWASP's LLM Top 10
→ It's not theoretical - it's already happening (autonomous vehicles, chatbots, recruiting tools)
→ There's no silver bullet fix - it's an architectural problem
Elephant in AppSec Conference
Why Third Party Reviews Are Broken
(and how to fix them)
Security reviews don't have to be theater. They can be trust.
You can watch the replay here @2:00:00: here
WiCyS Webinar
AI & Security: Risk, Integrity, and Enterprise Resilience
In the AI era, integrity—not just confidentiality or availability—is the most threatened pillar of security, as manipulated information can undermine trust and decision‑making.
You can watch the replay: here
WiCyS Speakers Bureau
Event organizers are always asking: "Where do we find women speakers in cybersecurity?"
Here's your answer → The Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Speakers Bureau
I just joined, and I'm honored to be alongside some seriously impressive practitioners in AppSec, AI security, and offensive security.
Watch my speaker spotlight: here
Women Who Code
Intro to Cybersecurity and Wargames
I presented a Women Who Code workshop covering cybersecurity basics (CIA triad, red/blue teams, career paths) and why more women are needed in the field.
The hands-on portion walked through OverTheWire's Leviathan CTF, teaching Linux commands and privilege escalation techniques like symbolic links and brute forcing.
You can watch the replay: here
Women Who Code
Intro to Hacking: Open Source Intelligence
I presented a Women Who Code workshop on OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), covering how to find publicly available information about people and websites using tools like Have I Been Pwned, Sherlock, Google dorking, Shodan, and robots.txt files.
I emphasized both offensive research techniques and personal privacy protection, sharing practical tips like using passphrases, VPNs, and doing "data detoxes".
You can watch the replay: here
CODEGIRL Movie Feature
In February 2015, I responded to the Technovation Challenge. Over 16 weeks, I worked with my team on determining which community cause they wanted to solve by developing an app prototype (utilizing AppInventor2), a brand (Benef-Action: Benefiting the Community Through Action), a business plan (how it will be developed and implemented, as well as how much it will cost), a pitch (a four-minute video convincing investors to partner with the app) and a demo video (how the app would work) to enter into the competition.
You can watch the tralier: here
Digital Women's Conference
Featured Panelist
I was a featured presenter at the Digital Women’s Conference in Playa Vista on International Women's Day 2016. I was invited due to my work as a Technovation Challenge team member, and featured student in the CodeGirl documentary.
You can review: here
CNN Interview
I was interviewed live on CNN for being featured in the movie "CodeGirl" directed by Lesley Chilcott. This interview was conducted at LA by CNN star reporter Poppy Harlow.
You can watch the replay: here
TEDx
Valencia High School
I shared my personal journey into technology and highlighted the significant gender gap in computer science currently.
You can review: here
