🚨 #BindingHookLive tickets are going fast! 🚨 A little over a month to go until the very first Binding Hook Live! Don't miss the chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind event featuring a fantastic line-up of expert speakers. 🎟️ Request your invite: bindinghooklive.com

💭 Introducing #AI over Lunch - a new interview series exploring how leaders across sectors are grappling with the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. Read the first interview with #NATO CIO Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer: virtual-routes.org/ai-over-lunc...

Where is #AI really shaping #ransomware – and where is it just hype? Join experts ‪‪Ciaran Martin, Jamie MacColl, Will Thomas, Taylor Grossman & Max Smeets as they discuss AI’s role in ransomware. 📅 To join, register as a member: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

I've been thinking a lot about @maxwsmeets.bsky.social Ransomware Trust Paradox and how I think it's breaking. My analysis below (btw: if you haven't you should buy Max's book).

With more writers joining and more readers returning, we felt it was time for a better space. Our new @bindinghook.bsky.social website is now live! bindinghook.com

#PublicAttribution of cyber activities is #China’s latest technique for pressuring #Taiwan and shaping the international dialogue around #cybersecurity. @benread.bsky.social digs into the details on Binding Hook: bindinghook.com/articles-hoo...

New from me: China has been ramping up its public attribution against Taiwan, likely in an attempt to shift the conversation on cyber intrusions and pressure the island and they're using their private sector cybersecurity companies to do it. Read the piece, but a few highlights, take aways in this 🧵

The increasingly popular narrative that #AIthreats need to be fought with #AIsecuritysolutions fall short upon closer inspection, argue @virtualroutes.bsky.social’s Jamie Collier and @maxwsmeets.bsky.social in their latest: bindinghook.com/articles-bin...

Our #CyCon2025 #ransomware workshop, now in video! 🎞️ Watch the recap and join us for a quick trip back to Tallinn. 👇 @maxwsmeets.bsky.social @jamesshires.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb7G...

🎙️ The new episode of the @sansinstitute.bsky.social #CyberLeadersPodcast featuring @maxwsmeets.bsky.social is out now! Have a listen: sans.org/u/1Bxx

Gijs van Loon, Apolline Rolland, @jamesshires.bsky.social, and @maxwsmeets.bsky.social call for increased action from the EU to support and protect European drinking- and wastewater utilities. bindinghook.com/articles-bin...

On Lawfare Daily, @jshermcyber.bsky.social and Jonathan Cedarbaum spoke to @maxwsmeets.bsky.social about his book “Ransom War,” the history of ransomware, how the threats have evolved, and some of the major drivers of innovation within the ecosystem. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lawf...

I enjoyed joining James Lyne and @ciaranm.bsky.social on the Cyber Leaders podcast. It was both fun and useful to discuss state and criminal cyber activity in one episode - and to explore where the two intersect. www.sans.org/podcasts/cyb...

Ransom War is now available as an audiobook! www.amazon.com/Ransom-War-B...

⏰ Hurry up - only 1️⃣ week left until the deadline! 📝 Submit your Lightning Talk proposal by May 31: bindinghooklive.com

Updates to our speakers list! Looking forward to the talks by Mattijs Dijkstra & Zawadi Done (@huntandhackett.com), @joshagoldstein.bsky.social (Georgetown's CSET), & @maxwsmeets.bsky.social (@virtualroutes.bsky.social + @ethz.ch). Registration closing 1 June: www.thehagueprogram.nl/the-hague-ti...

Het aantal gerichte taps door de #AIVD is de laatste 5 jaar aanzienlijk gedaald, daarentegen is het aantal taps door de #MIVD de afgelopen twee jaar geëxplodeerd:

Excited to be speaking at The Hague TIX this year. Great line up once again from @monicakello.bsky.social and team! www.thehagueprogram.nl/the-hague-ti...

@virtualroutes.bsky.social is expanding the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program to the Netherlands, focusing on defending local communities against ransomware. Current university students can register interest now virtual-routes.org/initiatives/...

We are excited to launch a new program in the Netherlands. The goal is to give students hands-on experience in cybersecurity, with courses like malware reverse engineering, digital forensics, and ransomware economics.

The arrest of a suspect after a spate of #RansomwareAttacks in the Netherlands is an unusual win for law enforcement, but a more holistic approach is required. Read the new piece by @jamesshires.bsky.social and @maxwsmeets.bsky.social: bindinghook.com/articles-hoo...

⏳ 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱! We're looking for talks on: 👉 Cyber & AI 👉 Surveillance 👉 Info ops 👉 Critical infra 👉 Cybercrime and more ✅ If accepted you’ll receive a 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 to the event and a £𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺. 📝 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗹: bindinghooklive.com

The G7 Cybersec Working Group has finally put nat cyber agencies in one room to align on critical infra and AI safeguards. Now let us see if a small task force can truly overcome the deep institutional silos that have long slowed collective cyber security/defense: bindinghook.com/articles-hoo...

One month left to submit a proposal for a Lightning Talk at Binding Hook Live. 10-minute presentations that should fit the same editorial scope as Binding Hook. We are interested in how digital and emerging technologies shape security. bindinghooklive.com

Published a new Pharos report today - and learned a lot in the process from @milenkowski.bsky.social Jiro, @julianferdinand.bsky.social @tgrossman.bsky.social. The report takes a closer look at how states are using ransomware. virtual-routes.org/wp-content/u...

Published a new Pharos report today - and learned a lot in the process from @milenkowski.bsky.social Jiro, @julianferdinand.bsky.social @tgrossman.bsky.social. The report takes a closer look at how states are using ransomware. virtual-routes.org/wp-content/u...

Looking forward to welcome @maxwsmeets.bsky.social at our next online seminar on 22 May to talk about his new book Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became a Threat to National Security! More info and how to register: www.thehagueprogram.nl/events/ranso...

💡 The third report of the Pharos Series, Ransomware’s New Masters: How States Are Hijacking Cybercrime by @milenkowski.bsky.social, Jiro Minier, @julianferdinand.bsky.social, @maxwsmeets.bsky.social, and @tgrossman.bsky.social is out now. Read the full report: virtual-routes.org/pharos-repor...

📘 @maxwsmeets.bsky.social Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became a Threat to National Security is now available in the US! ⏭️ Get your copy: a.co/d/7AZEKWu

Cyber operations are often either underhyped or overhyped. While life-threatening attacks get little attention, routine intelligence operations are treated as hostile #cyberattacks, clouding public perception, writes @lawsecnet.counterintelligence.pl. bindinghook.com/articles-bin...

📖 Pharos Report No.2: The Ransomware Trust Paradox by @maxwsmeets.bsky.social is out now. Read the full report: virtual-routes.org/pharos-repor... #Cybersecurity #Ransomware #PharosSeries #VirtualRoutes #MaxSmeets

Excited to publish my new report on what I call 'The Ransomware Trust Paradox'. It looks at how ransomware groups build credibility to get paid - and why disrupting their reputation is key to stopping them. It is based on book and LABSCON keynote

I just learned that Ransom War will also be an audiobook. It runs for 9 hours and 30 minutes. I guess perfect if you are looking to fill a small gap in your schedule.

The Ransomware Countermeasures Tracker is now updated with all relevant 2025 government actions: virtual-routes.org/ransomware-c...

Just wrapped up a special week of research at the NCA on a new ransomware project. Gained lots of new insights and plenty to think about. More to follow soon!

⚡️ Submit a proposal for a Lightning Talk at Binding Hook Live! A free ticket and £500 honorarium await. 🗣️ Format: 10-minute presentation ⏰ Deadline: May 31, 2025 Read more: bindinghooklive.com

🎙️ Announcing Binding Hook Live: Where Digital Tech and Global Affairs Meet 🗓️ October 27, 2025 📍 Underbelly Boulevard Soho, London 🎟️ Request an invite: bindinghooklive.com #BindingHook #BindingHookLive

👋 Say hello to the 2025-2026 European Cybersecurity Fellows! 12 months, 15 fellows from 10 countries across Europe, one goal: to take the next step in their careers and make it count. Learn more: virtual-routes.org/initiatives/...

A while ago, we started thinking: what would our ideal event look like? That is what we have been building with Binding Hook Live. bindinghooklive.com

Thanks for upgrading my collection @ransomwaresommelier.com

A while ago, we started thinking: what would our ideal event look like? That is what we have been building with Binding Hook Live. bindinghooklive.com

Excited to publish the first report as part of the new Pharos series, with more to follow soon! This series will focus on key developments shaping cybersecurity and emerging tech. The first publications take a closer look at ransomware and how to respond to it. virtual-routes.org/introducing-...

SLEUTHCON is the best cybercrime focused con of the year. I make sure I don’t book travel so I can be there. Join us, won’t you?

🚨 Introducing the Pharos Reports - a new series shedding light on #Cybersecurity and #EmergingTech challenges with expert analysis! Read the first report in the series, The Ransomware Playbook and How to Disrupt It, authored by @maxwsmeets.bsky.social: virtual-routes.org/introducing-...

Excited to publish the first report as part of the new Pharos series, with more to follow soon! This series will focus on key developments shaping cybersecurity and emerging tech. The first publications take a closer look at ransomware and how to respond to it. virtual-routes.org/introducing-...

We are excited to welcome Anna Sophie den Ouden as the newest Junior Researcher to the Virtual Routes team! 🤝 Read more about Anna Sophie: virtual-routes.org/anna-sophie-...

ICRC is looking for a digital tech of warfare advisor based in Ukraine: careers.icrc.org/job/Kyiv-%28... Cc @vignus.bsky.social