Max Smeets

Max Smeets

@maxwsmeets.bsky.social

Author of No Shortcuts & Ransom War Co-director Virtual Routes (https://virtual-routes.org/), previously ECCRI Managing Editor Binding Hook (https://bindinghook.com) Senior Researcher, ETH Zurich

6.2K followers491 following183 posts

Max Smeets reposted

Binding Hook
@bindinghook.bsky.social

🚨 #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

Max Smeets reposted

Virtual Routes
@virtualroutes.bsky.social

💭 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...

virtual-routes.orgAI over Lunch: Manfred Boudreaux-DehmerWelcome to AI over Lunch, our new interview series exploring how leaders across sectors are grappling with the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence.

Max Smeets reposted

Binding Hook
@bindinghook.bsky.social

#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...

bindinghook.comChina is using cyber attribution to pressure TaiwanMirroring Western tactics, China’s main intelligence agency and private sector allies are publicly unmasking alleged Taiwanese hackers in a gambit to sway domestic and international opinion

Max Smeets reposted

Binding Hook
@bindinghook.bsky.social

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...

bindinghook.comWhy Europe must finally secure its water sectors from cyber threatsDespite the vital importance of both drinking water and wastewater management, these sectors are highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. What policy actions can help?
Max Smeets
@maxwsmeets.bsky.social

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...

sans.orgThe Cyber Battlefield with Max Smeets | 13 | Cyber Leaders Podcast | SANS InstituteIn this episode, Ciaran and James meet Max Smeets, Co-Director of Virtual Routes and Senior Researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies at ETH Zurich, to discuss how digital threats are reshaping g...

Max Smeets reposted

James Shires
@jamesshires.bsky.social

@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/...

virtual-routes.orgCybersecurity Seminars NL - Virtual RoutesThe Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program has been successfully implemented in higher education institutions across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and is now being launched in the Netherland...
Max Smeets
@maxwsmeets.bsky.social

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.

Virtual Routes@virtualroutes.bsky.social

🇳🇱 #Cybersecurity Seminars program expands to the Netherlands under the leadership of Virtual Routes! It focuses on enabling students to help local community organizations defend against #RansomwareAttacks. Learn more about the program and register interest: virtual-routes.org/initiatives/...

Max Smeets reposted

Binding Hook
@bindinghook.bsky.social

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...

bindinghook.comRansomware groups are not always out of reachThe arrest of a suspect after a spate of ransomware attacks in the Netherlands is an unusual win for law enforcement, but a more holistic approach is required.

Max Smeets reposted

Alexander Martin
@alexmartin.bsky.social

⏳ 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

bindinghooklive.comBinding Hook LiveBinding Hook Live is a one-of-a-kind event bringing together leading voices in digital and emerging technologies and global affairs. This exclusive event takes place at the iconic Underbelly Boulevard...
Max Smeets
@maxwsmeets.bsky.social

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...

bindinghook.comSowing the seeds of enhanced cybersecurity cooperation within the G7Officials from the Italian National Cybersecurity Agency discuss the challenges and successes of creating the new G7 Cybersecurity Working Group
Max Smeets
@maxwsmeets.bsky.social

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

bindinghooklive.comBinding Hook LiveBinding Hook Live is a one-of-a-kind event bringing together leading voices in digital and emerging technologies and global affairs. This exclusive event takes place at the iconic Underbelly Boulevard...
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Max Smeets
@maxwsmeets.bsky.social

North Korea’s financially driven approach, embedding itself deep within the ecosystem, is also striking. And then there is Iran.. which may be the most versatile in its use. We found it harder to pin down, but much of it mirrors their hacktivist tactics with wipers, offering a similar kind of cover.

Max Smeets reposted

Binding Hook
@bindinghook.bsky.social

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...

bindinghook.comTowards an accurate description of cyber operationsCyber operations can range from espionage to sabotage, but they are often described in uniform ways, leading to misconceptions and inadequate responses. Using plain language to describe the goals and ...
Max Smeets
@maxwsmeets.bsky.social

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

Virtual Routes@virtualroutes.bsky.social

📖 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