The Hacker News Launches 'Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026' — Submissions Now Open  The Hacker News  May 06, 2026 Security Leadership / Industry Recognition For nearly 20 years, we at The Hacker News have mostly told scary stories about cyberspace — big hacks, broken systems, and new threats. But behind every headline, there’s a quieter, better story. It’s the story of leaders making tough calls under pressure, teams building smarter defenses, and security products that keep hunting threats 24/7 — even when it’s hard. Most of the time, this work is invisible. When everything goes perfectly, nothing happens. The world just stays safe, and no one notices. Today, we want the world to notice. Introducing the CyberStars Awards 2026 We are launching the Cybersecurity Stars Awards 2026 , a global program that recognizes excellence across the cybersecurity industry and highlights outstanding work that often goes unnoticed. Submissions are now open, and companies, products, and professionals can apply via the official awards portal: https://awards.thehackernews.com/ We don’t just want to report the news anymore. We want to recognize the people behind it. This program is designed to highlight organizations and individuals making meaningful contributions to cybersecurity across innovation, execution, and real-world impact, and to give them a platform to showcase their work. Why is this different? One of the defining aspects of the program is its audience. The Hacker News reaches a global community that includes CISOs and senior security leaders, practitioners and engineers, and enterprise buyers. Recognition through the Cybersecurity Stars Awards is not just symbolic. It provides visibility among the people who evaluate, select, and deploy cybersecurity technologies. Each submission is evaluated through a structured and impartial review process designed to maintain fairness and integrity. Award Categories We have opened four main paths for you to be recognized. Whether you are a solo hero or a global giant, there is a place for you: Cybersecurity Product / Service: Covers all areas of cybersecurity, including cloud, endpoint, identity, threat detection, application, and data protection. Choose the closest fit or request a new category. Cybersecurity Industry Solution: For solutions built for specific industries such as finance, healthcare, government, or critical infrastructure, with clear impact. Cybersecurity Company: For organizations showing strong leadership, growth, and consistent execution. Cybersecurity Professional / Team: For individuals and teams driving innovation, resilience, and measurable impact. How to Apply We have made the process simple so you can focus on telling your story. Here is how to get started: Visit the Awards Portal and create an account in seconds. Purchase nomination credits. Choose the most relevant category or categories to apply to. Complete the nomination form with details on your work, impact, and innovation. Submit your entry before the deadline. For any questions or support, contact - awards@thehackernews.com Key Dates Submission Deadline: May 15, 2026 Winners Announcement: May 26, 2026 Why Does It Matter? Recognition in cybersecurity only matters when it is trusted. For vendors, trust drives credibility, adoption, and long-term value. The Hacker News has built its reputation on independent, reliable reporting for a global audience of security professionals. The Cybersecurity Stars Awards extend that same foundation to provide credible, visible recognition for meaningful contributions across the industry. Apply Now If your organization, product, or team is contributing to the cybersecurity landscape, this is your opportunity to be recognized. Submit your nomination today: https://awards.thehackernews.com/ Submissions are open, and the deadline is approaching. Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Google News , Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE      Tweet  Share  Share  Share   Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter  Share on Linkedin  Share on Reddit  Share on Hacker News  Share on Email  Share on WhatsApp Share on Facebook Messenger  Share on Telegram SHARE  Cloud security , cybersecurity , CyberStars Awards , data protection , endpoint security , enterprise security , Identity Management , threat detection ⚡ Top Stories This Week Harvester Deploys Linux GoGra Backdoor in South Asia Using Microsoft Graph API Malicious KICS Docker Images and VS Code Extensions Hit Checkmarx Supply Chain Apple Fixes iOS Flaw That Let FBI Recover Deleted Signal Messages Vercel Finds More Compromised Accounts in Context.ai-Linked Breach ThreatsDay Bulletin: $290M DeFi Hack, macOS LotL Abuse, ProxySmart SIM Farms +25 New Stories Bitwarden CLI Compromised in Ongoing Checkmarx Supply Chain Campaign LMDeploy CVE-2026-33626 Flaw Exploited Within 13 Hours of Disclosure FIRESTARTER Backdoor Hit Federal Cisco Firepower Device, Survives Security Patches Researchers Uncover Pre-Stuxnet ‘fast16’ Malware Targeting Engineering Software ⚡ Weekly Recap: Fast16 Malware, XChat Launch, Federal Backdoor, AI Employee Tracking and More Checkmarx Confirms GitHub Repository Data Posted on Dark Web After March 23 Attack Microsoft Confirms Active Exploitation of Windows Shell CVE-2026-32202 Chinese Silk Typhoon Hacker Extradited to U.S. Over COVID Research Cyberattacks Microsoft Patches Entra ID Role Flaw That Enabled Service Principal Takeover Researchers Discover Critical GitHub CVE-2026-3854 RCE Flaw Exploitable via Single Git Push Critical cPanel Authentication Vulnerability Identified — Update Your Server Immediately ⭐ Featured Resources [Webinar] Stop Chasing Alerts and Start Focusing on Real Exposures [Guide] How to Enable Secure Data Movement Without Added Risk Learn How Hidden Identity Blind Spots Weaken Your Security Systems [Guide] Learn a Practical Framework to Evaluate AI Tools for Production