Remembering Tim Wilson, Whose Legacy Lives on at Dark Reading TechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Dark Reading Resource LibraryBlack Hat NewsOmdia CybersecurityAdvertiseNewsletter Sign-UpNewsletter Sign-UpCybersecurity TopicsRelated TopicsApplication SecurityCybersecurity CareersCloud SecurityCyber RiskCyberattacks & Data BreachesCybersecurity AnalyticsCybersecurity OperationsData PrivacyEndpoint SecurityICS/OT SecurityIdentity & Access Mgmt SecurityInsider ThreatsIoTMobile SecurityPerimeterPhysical SecurityRemote WorkforceThreat IntelligenceVulnerabilities & ThreatsRecent in Cybersecurity TopicsEndpoint SecurityChina's Webworm Uses Discord, Microsoft Graphs to Hack EU GovernmentsChina's Webworm Uses Discord, Microsoft Graphs to Hack EU GovernmentsbyAlexander CulafiMay 22, 20264 Min ReadApplication SecurityGitHub Confirms Breach, 4K Internal Repos StolenGitHub Confirms Breach, 4K Internal Repos StolenbyAlexander CulafiMay 20, 20263 Min ReadWorld Related TopicsDR GlobalMiddle East & AfricaAsia PacificLatin AmericaSee AllThe EdgeDR TechnologyEventsRelated TopicsUpcoming EventsPodcastsWebinarsSEE ALLResourcesRelated TopicsResource LibraryNewslettersPodcastsReportsVideosWebinarsWhite Papers Partner PerspectivesDark Reading Resource LibraryCybersecurity OperationsCyber RiskCyberattacks & Data BreachesCybersecurity CareersCommentarySince 2006, Dark Reading has been at the forefront of covering cybersecurity, providing deep insights and analysis beyond the headlines. All those major news events? We were there. Shifts in technology trends? We wrote about them. Enjoy this special anniversary coverage celebrating where we've been and what's next.Remembering Tim Wilson, Whose Legacy Lives on at Dark ReadingThe co-founder and former editor-in-chief passed away five years ago in November. As Dark Reading enters is third decade, we pause to celebrate and honor Wilson's instrumental role in building and elevating the media site.Kelly Jackson Higgins,Editor-in-Chief,Dark ReadingMay 26, 20265 Min ReadDark Reading co-founder and editor-in-chief, Tim WilsonSource: Dark Reading "Security, like everything else that's human, is a work in progress."That line from the late Tim Wilson's 2013 column for Dark Reading's seventh anniversary still rings true today. Tim pointed out that cyber defense and breaches involve people — defenders and victims — and "while attacks and technology change, the nature of security itself doesn't," he wrote. The human element in security means it's always evolving. Such is the cybersecurity world in 2026, too.Tim, Dark Reading's co-founder and former editor-in-chief, had a gift for penning profound insights about industry trends. That column was just one example of how, for Tim, it was always about the people: those he worked with, those who read his work, and most importantly, his family and friends.It has been nearly five years since Tim passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Much has changed at Dark Reading since his death in late November of 2021. The site has grown dramatically, and the team has nearly doubled in size. Only two of the eight of us worked with Tim at Dark Reading. Most of our current teammates never met or even knew of Tim before they came on board, and it is not lost on me that many of our newest readers probably don't know his byline or work.Related:Looking Back, Looking Forward: Digesting a Dynamic Bouillabaisse of Cyber EvolutionSo, as we celebrate Dark Reading's 20th anniversary this month, we also honor and remember Tim's legacy and lasting influence on this media brand, as well as on the industry writ large.Dark Reading's Tim Wilson: A Cyber Media EntrepreneurFrom the get-go in May of 2006, Tim set the standard for security journalism with smart, insightful reporting wrapped in his inimitably engaging writing style. His pieces were always a great read, thanks to his skilled writing and depth of security knowledge, and the occasional bit of humor he slipped into a headline or body of a story (where appropriate, of course).As Dark Reading grew, Tim's role did, too. He served as the face of Dark Reading to the industry for most of his 15 years at the helm, creating content for various industry conferences, educating stakeholders on the Dark Reading business side, and always facilitating communication and conversation, formally or informally, in the burgeoning security community. Tim was passionate about Dark Reading and making sure that it consistently served industry leaders and professionals. His dream was to establish a security conference for security pros by security pros, where they could share their experiences and learn from one another, focusing on the most relevant threats rather than the latest security vulnerability or research finding. That vision culminated with his creation of the INsecurity conference in 2017, a groundbreaking Dark Reading event that brought together chief information security officers (CISOs) and other major enterprise security leaders in Chatham House Rule forums and roundtable discussions. They shared their experiences, learned from one another, and as Tim had hoped, considered fresh, more effective defense strategies, all in a safe space free of vendor influence. Related:20 Leaders Who Built the CISO Era: 2 Decades of ChangeTim was always innovating and looking for new ways to grow the Dark Reading audience and the business. As a pioneer in the shift from print to online B2B media, Tim created new and updated elements on the Dark Reading site, and he invented more ways to engage with cyber pros, such as Dark Reading's editorial webinars, all-day virtual events (long before the pandemic), and research reports. He carved out unique "sites within the site," as he called them: The Edge, Dark Reading's features section; and Dark Reading Technology, our section devoted to cyber technology and product trends.   Tim was known for his generosity to others. He took the time to listen, mentor, and support his team and other members of the security industry. Several industry friends over the years have shared stories of how he helped them in their career journeys. Related:Name That Toon: Mark of (Security) ProgressTim loved the security community, but it was his unabashed love for, and dedication to, Dark Reading that propelled the brand in its first 15 years.Dark Reading at 20: 2 Decades of Innovative Cyber ReportingToday, Tim's entrepreneurial spirit lives on in Dark Reading's newest generation of talented editors and reporters who understand that this brand carries weight, and who take pride in representing and advancing Dark Reading.Our editorial team is carrying on the Dark Reading tradition of evolving and finding new ways to connect with our audience. They are leading the way in creating new forms of content including video, unparalleled technology trend analysis, a unique storytelling podcast, and specialized international coverage. The team is experimenting with online polls, interactive AI knowledge agents, and Spanish-language translation. We also work closely with our CISO Advisory Board: a collection of cyber leaders who help us focus on the topics, depth, and types of content they and their security teams need for their jobs and want to see on Dark Reading.This culture of dedication to readers and the site echoes the core strategy for Dark Reading that Tim evangelized and practiced for nearly 15 years. I'm quite sure he would be pleased: What better way to pay tribute to his legacy and memory than to continue that mission for Dark Reading now and into the future?Here's to our memories and gifts from Tim, whom we lost far too soon. Click here for all of our DR20 content, which will be rolling out across the month of May. Keep checking back for new items! About the AuthorKelly Jackson HigginsEditor-in-Chief, Dark ReadingKelly Jackson Higgins is the Editor-in-Chief of Dark Reading and VP, cybersecurity editorial at Informa TechTarget, where she leads editorial strategy for the company's three cybersecurity media brands: Dark Reading, SearchSecurity and Cybersecurity Dive. She is an award-winning veteran technology and business journalist with more than three decades of experience in reporting and editing for various B2B publications and major media properties, specializing in cybersecurity topics such as cloud and infrastructure, security operations, ICS/OT security, and CISO issues. Jackson Higgins was selected three consecutive times as one of the Top 10 Cybersecurity Journalists in the U.S., and was named as one of Folio's 2019 Top Women in Media. She has been with Dark Reading since its launch in 2006.See more from Kelly Jackson HigginsWant more Dark Reading stories in your Google search results?Add Us NowMore InsightsIndustry ReportsHow Organizations Are Managing Incident ResponseHow Enterprises Are Developing Secure ApplicationsInside RSAC 2026: security leaders reveal the risks redefining your defense strategyHow Enterprises Are Harnessing Emerging Technologies in CybersecurityDitch the Data Center: Understanding Flexible Cloud Infrastructure Security ManagementAccess More ResearchWebinarsBuild vs. Buy: The Hidden Cost of Building Your Own AI Security StackDefending in the Shadow Era: When the CVE Feed Goes DarkBuilding SecOps That Make the Most of Every DollarAI-Powered Credential Security: Intelligence Without ExposureAI-Powered Cybersecurity for Resource-Constrained OrganizationsMore WebinarsDiscover MoreBlack HatOmdiaWorking With UsAbout UsAdvertiseReprintsJoin UsNewsletter Sign-UpFollow UsCopyright © 2026 TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget. 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The recognition of Tim Wilson, co-founder and former editor-in-chief of Dark Reading, serves to honor his instrumental role in building and elevating the media site and the broader cybersecurity industry. Wilson's philosophy, captured in his insightful comments, emphasized that security, like all human endeavors, is a continuous work in progress, acknowledging that the nature of security constantly evolves amid changes in technology and attacks. His perspective highlighted that cybersecurity inherently involves people—defenders and victims—meaning the human element is dynamic and always evolving.

Throughout his fifteen years at the helm of Dark Reading, Tim Wilson established a standard for security journalism, known for his smart, engaging writing that blended depth of security knowledge with accessible reporting. He served as the public face of the publication, creating content for industry conferences, educating stakeholders on the business aspects of the security domain, and fostering communication within the burgeoning security community. A central part of his vision was establishing a security conference for security professionals, designed to facilitate shared experiences and the development of effective defense strategies free from vendor influence. This vision materialized in the creation of the INsecurity conference in 2017, an event that brought together chief information security officers and other enterprise security leaders for collaborative learning and strategy sessions.

Wilson demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit by innovating the way Dark Reading engaged its audience and grew. He pioneered the shift from print to online B2B media, introducing new elements such as editorial webinars, all-day virtual events, and research reports. He also developed unique sections within the site, including The Edge and Dark Reading Technology, to focus on specific technology trends and product analysis. Beyond his editorial work, Wilson was known for mentoring and supporting his team and the broader security community.

Today, Dark Reading continues to honor Wilson's legacy by evolving its content and outreach strategies. The current editorial team is pursuing new content formats, including video, podcasts, unparalleled technology trend analysis, and specialized international coverage. They are actively experimenting with interactive tools such as online polls and AI knowledge agents, alongside collaboration with the CISO Advisory Board to ensure content focuses on the specific needs of security leaders. This dedication to readers and the site echoes the core strategy Tim Wilson championed over his tenure. Kelly Jackson Higgins, the current Editor-in-Chief of Dark Reading, continues this mission, leveraging her extensive background in technology and business journalism to lead the publication's strategy across its various media brands.