OWASP Toronto February 2026 Chapter Event: Raising Cyber Awareness & Securing Shadow AI
This upcoming OWASP Toronto event, taking place on February 12, 2026, at 6:30 PM EST, offers attendees a deep dive into critical topics bridging cybersecurity and artificial intelligence — highly relevant for developers, security professionals, and tech enthusiasts interested in AI agents and automation. The event features two expert presentations: - **Raising Cybersecurity Awareness Through Electronic Word of Mouth:** Dr. Dane Vanderkooi presents a data-driven analysis of how social media and electronic word of mouth (eWOM) influence cybersecurity awareness. By examining over 227,000 tweets between 2018 and 2022, the talk uncovers trends in online discussions, the dynamic nature of community engagement, and the pandemic's temporary impact on information reach. This talk provides valuable insights into leveraging social media to better inform the public about evolving cybersecurity risks. - **When AI Becomes Application Logic: Securing Shadow AI:** Daniel Shechter explores the emerging challenge of "Shadow AI," where untracked AI workflows embedded directly into applications create new security vulnerabilities. Attendees will learn about architectural patterns of AI integration, how to detect AI use dynamically, and practical frameworks to secure AI-powered applications against novel attack vectors. The format is a virtual dual-talk session aimed at cybersecurity experts, AI developers, and anyone interested in how AI impacts security practices in software applications. The event stands out for its focus on real-world application security concerns driven by AI advancements and will equip attendees with actionable knowledge grounded in research and industry practices. This event aligns closely with the Create With community's interests in AI agents, automation, and securing software built on new AI paradigms. For those in or near [Toronto](/cities/unknown) or joining online, registering early via the [Eventbrite page](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/owasp-toronto-february-2026-tickets-1982057078076) is recommended. Explore more [AI events in Toronto](/cities/toronto) and stay updated on topics around [automation and security](/directory/events?topic=automation).
