Cybersecurity training provider TryHackMe is scrambling to recruit women infosec pros to help with its Christmas challenge following a backlash over an all-male lineup. The company announced an 18-strong list of industry professionals and influencers, but none were women. Now, it’s working with Eva Benn, principal security program manager at Microsoft Security and Response Center, to add female experts to the roster.
TryHackMe said it didn’t intentionally exclude women from the event, but some declined due to prior commitments or didn’t respond despite follow-up emails. The company is now expanding its helper lineup and preparing to release an updated list of female creators participating in its “Advent of Cyber” event, which offers free beginner-level cyber training tasks throughout December.
The lack of diversity has sparked criticism from industry professionals, including ethical hacker Katie Paxton-Fear and cybersecurity influencer Caitlin Sarian. They argue that representation matters and that the tech industry needs to do better to address sexism and ageism.
TryHackMe’s situation reflects the broader issue of women’s underrepresentation in the cybersecurity field, with only two of the top 100 channels publishing global cybersecurity content being run by women. The company has acknowledged its mistakes and is taking steps to improve diversity and inclusion in its event lineup.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/28/tryhackme_diversity_row