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Jamie MacColl

@jamiemaccoll.bsky.social
978 followers 789 following 126 posts

Senior Research Fellow @rusi.bsky.social | Senior Research Associate @virtualroutes.bsky.social | Usually researching ransomware and cybercrime | Sometime indie landfill guitarist

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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Elizabeth DeLoria II: THE GHOST DIMENSION @yourdadloves.me · 03/10/2026
A two panel meme of the Simpsons. The top panel has kirk van houten gesturing to a race care bed. The text reads "im an AI guy. How many local models do YOU run?" The bottom panel is homer with a pope hat photoshopped onto his head. The bottom text reads "I run the catholic church."
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Five years after the Huawei debate, Europe still has no unified approach to managing 'high-risk' tech vendors. Our new report compares how Germany, Spain and the UK handle Chinese vendors in critical infrastructure - three different approaches, no EU standard.
rusi.org
High-Risk ICT Vendors and Critical Infrastructure: European Approaches
This paper compares the strategies used by Germany, Spain and the UK to manage risks from high-risk ICT vendors in critical national infrastructure.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Binding Hook @bindinghook.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
(4/6) Jamie MacColl & Will Lyne explored the challenges facing UK law enforcement as they combat a diversifying array of cyber threats in the face of limited resources & evolving cyber landscape. bindinghook.com/local-hacker...
bindinghook.com
Local hackers and Russian-speaking cyber criminals stretching UK responses
UK law enforcement must combat a diversifying array of cyber threats in the face of limited resources and a rapidly evolving cyber landscape
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Joe Tidy BBC News @joetidy.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Inside the FBI hack: Agents fearful and angry after 'dangerous' data breach. I've spoken to current/ former FBI agents who have expressed shock, fear and anger following a hack that appears to have exposed the private and personal information of the agency's entire workforce. "This is really bad..
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Love your suit!
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
'Cyberspace creates opportunities for mid-tier states. Rather than attempting to replicate the capabilities of major cyber powers they can exploit the distinctive logic of cyberspace and cooperation with civilian partners.' write Dr Peter B.M.J Pijpers and Dr Jelle van Haaster in a RUSI Commentary.
rusi.org
Cyber Campaigning: Mid-Tier States Can Leverage Civilian Cyber Power
States lacking vast nuclear and conventional capabilities should team with the private sector via letters of marque and digital levée en masse.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Dan Davies @dsquareddigest.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Data centres and AI really needed to learn from the example of GM foods, nuclear power and financial services - that no matter how necessary you think the job you do is, if you get a reputation for lying all the time you are absolutely f**ked in terms of public approval and consent for what you do
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
'The levels of innovation within the cybercrime ecosystem are often overstated. Threat actors are profit-seeking actors, like technology companies, but they are dissimilar in that they rarely pursue innovation for its own sake.' write Will Lyne and Jamie MacColl in the latest RUSI Commentary.
rusi.org
Beyond the Hype: AI, Ransomware and Business Models
AI is not (yet) fundamentally reinventing cybercrime. For bold predictions on how it will change, look to history to understand what drives criminal behaviour online.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Ciaran Martin @ciaranm.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Awesome paper on how AI is (not) transforming cyber crime www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
rusi.org
Beyond the Hype: AI, Ransomware and Business Models
AI is not (yet) fundamentally reinventing cybercrime. For bold predictions on how it will change, look to history to understand what drives criminal behaviour online.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Alexander Martin @alexmartin.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
New: The British government is seeking new powers that would allow it to ban technology vendors on national security grounds from supplying companies working in the country’s critical sectors — potentially doing so in secret.
therecord.media
UK government seeks powers to secretly block risky tech suppliers
The British government is seeking new powers to ban certain technology vendors from supplying companies working in the country’s critical sectors — potentially doing so in secret.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Binding Hook @bindinghook.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
‘We do not ask supermarkets to repel air strikes or hand factories the job of intercepting missiles. Yet when it comes to cyber, companies are left to fend off nation-state threats on their own.’ #cybersecurity bindinghook.com/whose-job-is...
bindinghook.com
Whose job is it to defend a private company?
When an Iranian spy agency posed as a ransomware gang early this year, the target wasn’t a government. It was an ordinary company – expected, somehow, to hold the line against a nation state
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Why haven’t they hired a set piece coach?
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Virtual Routes @virtualroutes.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
What has the war in Ukraine taught us about cyber operations? In this VIRO Learning explainer series, Virtual Routes Co-Director Max Smeets examines Russia’s cyber operations in Ukraine & what they reveal about the role and limits of cyber capabilities in modern warfare. youtu.be/PhABGlNHxzI?...
youtu.be
Intro: Lessons from Russian Cyber Operations in Ukraine | Max Smeets | VIRO Learning
YouTube video by Virtual Routes
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
'In the face of sustained efforts by malign actors, the UK is overdue a more strategic and effective approach to securing access to trusted information, particularly online' write Sophie Williams-Dunning, Andy Pryce and Jamie MacColl in the latest RUSI Commentary.
rusi.org
Burnham's Opportunity to Rethink Information Resilience
Repositioning DCMS as the lead for ‘information resilience' online and offline provides coherence to a currently disparate portfolio, offering a rare opportunity to rethink how the government protects the UK from information threats.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Countdown to a European law enforcement agency having a multi-year ransomware operation being upended by a US defence prime doing pew pews
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Water security is so important and it’s mindboggling that we continue to let private equity manage and profit from it. There’s no excuse anymore.
bbc.co.uk
More than half of England officially in drought - Environment Agency
The drought declarations follow an exceptionally hot and dry period, which has hit rivers, crops and nature.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Similar claims were made in the UK in 2020 and in reality it’s been much cheaper.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
if you're interested in contributing a paper to the next volume, we've just launched our next Call for Abstracts: my.rusi.org/uk-cyber-eff.... The next volume will focus on the role of offensive cyber operations in conflicts
my.rusi.org
UK Cyber Effects Network Call for Abstracts: Optimising Cyber Effects Operations for Conflict
The UK Cyber Effects Network is now accepting abstract submissions for original papers that address conceptual, doctrinal, legal, policy, capability and technological aspects of offensive cyber operat...
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
What is the UK approach to offensive cyber operations? This the question at heart of a new volume edited by me, @tcstvns.bsky.social @piahuesch.bsky.social and Emma De Angelis. Also features contributions by members of the UK National Cyber Force, which I think is a first?
rusi.org
New Thinking on UK Cyber Effects: An Edited Collection
This book explores the UK's approach to cyber effects operations, analysing strategic culture and policy in the evolving landscape of modern cyber warfare.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Alexander Martin @alexmartin.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Scoop: Britain's National Cyber Action Plan, the government's forthcoming strategy for defending the wider economy against state-backed and criminal hacking, has been delayed again amid the current ongoing drama in Westminster.
therecord.media
Launch of UK's National Cyber Action Plan delayed amid Labour leadership crisis
The plan had been due for publication on Monday, the sources said. It has been postponed amid the uncertainty over the governing Labour Party’s leadership contest, which opens July 9.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Agreed — I thought it did a good job of providing those details without the need to then make a big conclusion.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
There's also a claim buried in this story that the UK has conducted its own cyber sabotage operations against Russia...
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Technical forensic assessments are one part of the work that needs to be done; making assessments about relationships (some of which may primarily manifest ‘offline’) between Russian cybercrime groups and Russian intelligence is another.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
This case, like the arson attack against the Prime Minister's house, also emphasises the challenges for the intelligence community of making high-confidence assessments about incidents involving potential coordination between foreign inteligence agencies and criminal contractors
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Regardless, the attack is a clear example of the value of ransomware to the Russian state. Either: - Russian cybercriminals independently attacked the UK - A Russian intelligence agency conducted an op that looked like a criminal ransomware attack against the UK with some degree of deniability
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Although the attack does seem atypical, it's not completely out of the ordinary to not receive a ransom demand and JLR may not have engaged with the attacker.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The report includes two bits of evidence that indicate it might not be a typical financially-motivated ransomware attack: - JLR did not receive a ransom demand - The malware used in the attack was "sophisticated".
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
A very interesting story in the New York Times this morning that reports that the Russian state might have been involved the cyber attack against Jaguar Land Rover last year. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/w.... some thoughts from me below...
nytimes.com
A $2.5 Billion Whodunit: The Hack That Dented the U.K. Economy
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Joe Tidy BBC News @joetidy.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Teens who hacked TfL were known to police years before cyber-attack. If you've been following teen hacking gangs then you will know that one of the TfL hackers - Thalha Jubair - had a long history of crime. But the history of his co conspirator Owen Flowers is less know - until now.
bbc.co.uk
Teens who hacked TfL were known to police years before cyber-attack
Owen Flowers and Thalha Jubair were convicted for their roles in the attack, which led to large costs for Transport for London.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
The EU is currently discussing legislation that would allow it to designate and exclude Chinese vendors from European critical national infrastructure, but at this rate I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s amended to bring US vendors into scope.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Stopping allies and partners from using some of Anthropic’s models is exactly the kind of incident that successive US administrations have used to warn what might happen if we bought from Chinese tech vendors like Huawei.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
To celebrate the volume being published, we're hosting a webinar on 10 June with some of the contributors -- Neil Ashdown, Tim Stevens, @monicakello.bsky.social and Conrad Prince. You can register via this link: my.rusi.org/events/webin...
my.rusi.org
Webinar: The British Way in Cyber Warfare
The UK Cyber Effects Network celebrates the publication of its first edited book with a panel of contributors.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
On 9 June, the UK Cyber Effects Network will be publishing its first edited volume. Edited by me, @tcstvns.bsky.social, @piahuesch.bsky.social and Emma De Angelis, the volume has a range of contributions on the UK approach to offensive cyber.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Colbert guest hosted a public access TV show in Monroe, Michigan a day after the Late Show ended. Guest star: Jeff Daniels Special appearance by: Eminem Musical director: Jack White Genius. youtu.be/jJTXB5uT_C4?...
youtu.be
Only In Monroe --- May 22, 2026
YouTube video by Stephen Colbert
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Alexander Martin @alexmartin.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Scoop: We can reveal the details of the UK's planned Computer Misuse Act reform: ▶️ A statutory defence will only cover scanning internet-facing systems ▶️ Activity must stop once vulnerability is found ▶️ Only available to UK nationals accredited by Cyber Security Council (currently about 300 people)
therecord.media
UK plans for cybercrime law reform would protect almost no one, experts warn
The proposals would require researchers to cease activity the moment a vulnerability is identified, meaning they could not confirm it was real, assess its severity or determine its exploitability.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
static.klipy.com
Regina George: Stop Trying to Make Fetch Happen
ALT: Regina George: Stop Trying to Make Fetch Happen
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
We are pleased to announce that applications for the second cohort of the Fellowship Programme of the UK Cyber Effects Network are now open. Successful applicants will deepen their knowledge and engage in discussions on cyber effects. Apply by 5 June 2026, 23:59 BST: bit.ly/4tPIwbn
The image contains a quotation about the role of the UK Cyber Effects Network in guiding cyber effects operations for a resilient UK. It is attributed to Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes, Commander of the National Cyber Force. The logos of RUSI and the UK Cyber Effects Network are also present. The background is purple.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Read a good book on this recently: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300...
yalebooks.co.uk
In Praise of Forgetting - Yale University Press London
A leading contrarian thinker explores the ethical paradox at the heart of history's wounds The conventional wisdom about historical memory is summed up i...
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Yesterday, we hosted Liz Kendall’s speech on AI and tech sovereignty at RUSI. It was my first time organising a ministerial speech and I’m very grateful to have such competent colleagues
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
At RUSI today, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP set out why AI is central to economic power and national security, warning that failing to invest would be 'a betrayal of British talent and British interests'. Read the RUSI News piece: bit.ly/3QFqQk0 Watch the event recording: bit.ly/42Eqe0A
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Binding Hook @bindinghook.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Counter-ransomware interventions are increasing, but assessing the impact remains difficult. Our latest article by @maxwsmeets.bsky.social, @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social, S. Williams-Dunning, & @bobherc.bsky.social introduces a practical framework to evaluate them. Read: bindinghook.com/assessing-th...
bindinghook.com
Assessing the impact of counter-ransomware interventions
Counter-ransomware interventions are becoming increasingly common, but judging whether those interventions ‘work’ remains difficult. Understanding impact means considering more than a single outcome a...
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Virtual Routes @virtualroutes.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
[New Report with @rusi.bsky.social] Assessing the Impact of Ransomware Interventions and Countermeasures: A Framework. This Pharos report presents a practical framework to evaluate counter-ransomware actions across severity, scope, longevity & reversibility, and signalling value.
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Blavatnik School of Government @blavatnikschool.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
"That should make us all pause and think. Every organisation needs to identify the networks that matter to them, and how to protect them better, and then plan for how they'd cope if the network gets disrupted." Prof Ciaran Martin Martin on JLR's recent cyber attack👇 ow.ly/QEMu50Xg7Zz
ow.ly
JLR hack 'is costliest cyber attack in UK history', experts say
The cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover is estimated to cost £2.1bn, the Cyber Monitoring Centre says.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Ciaran Martin @ciaranm.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
My statement on the allegations of a Chinese state compromise of Britain’s most highly classified government systems in 2020 www.linkedin.com/posts/cyberc...
linkedin.com
My statement on the allegations of a systematic Chinese state compromise of Britain’s classified information systems in 2020 STARTS “Following the reports earlier today in The Times, as the senior… ...
My statement on the allegations of a systematic Chinese state compromise of Britain’s classified information systems in 2020 STARTS “Following the reports earlier today in The Times, as the senior o...
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
We have extended the deadline to submit abstracts for a book of papers on offensive cyber operations. We’re particularly keen for more submissions from the private sector so if you’re sitting on research and want to write a paper rather than give a conference presentation format then submit it here!
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Kevin Beaumont @doublepulsar.com · 14/09/2025
It's gonna be interesting to see how this one plays out. There's louder calls coming in to the UK gov to bail out JLR's supplies, as they've started laying off staff after JLR's ransomware/extortion incident. But JLR made £2.5bn in profit last year. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Jaguar Land Rover: Some suppliers 'face bankruptcy' due to hack crisis
The government has been urged to
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
🚨We're excited to launch a new initiative to build a UK community focused on offensive cyber operations. The goal is to generate new ideas and develop the next generation of experts in this field. Learn more, including how to get involved, below.
rusi.org
UK Cyber Effects Network Launches
RUSI and the National Cyber Force are launching a new initiative to develop a UK community of interest on offensive cyber and other cyber effects operations.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
Ciaran Martin @ciaranm.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Good piece by @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social of @rusi.bsky.social on the UK’s cyber security challenges www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
rusi.org
A Crossroads for UK Cyber Strategy
UK cyber strategy is struggling to achieve its resilience objectives – the next iteration of the National Cyber Strategy needs to set out a compelling vision for change.
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Jamie MacColl @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
It’s not just the public sector, it’s also privately operated CNI.
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Reposted by Jamie MacColl
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
"I can’t see most cybercriminals taking a limited UK payment ban into account for their operating models. It would probably take a full payment ban to make the criminals sit up and take notice" notes RUSI's @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social to @thetimes.com. .
thetimes.com
Businesses banned from paying hackers’ ransoms to target cybercrime
New laws mark some of the strictest in the world to target hackers, requiring the private sector to seek government permission before paying cybercriminals
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