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Louise Marie Hurel

@lmhurel.bsky.social
621 followers 104 following 85 posts

Tech, Cyber diplomacy, Norms etc. Cyber at @rusi.bsky.social & among other things. Jazz and personal views only. Personal website: www.louisemariehurel.com

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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Europe is fighting a hybrid war with a one-dimensional toolkit. Our new report by Dr Louise Marie Hurel and Dr Gareth Mott argues cyberattacks demand a broader political response. It proposes a 52-tool framework across diplomatic, economic, and military instruments, sequenced to adversary behaviour.
rusi.org
Beyond ‘Cyber' in Deterrence: A Multilevel Framework
This paper presents a multilevel framework for cyber deterrence, integrating cyber and non-cyber tools to counter threats and enhance national security.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Deterring state cyber activity takes more than cyber tools. Join us on 21 September for a panel discussion on what an integrated, aligned and campaigns-based approach to cyber deterrence demands of European capitals.
my.rusi.org
From Silos to Statecraft: Whole-of-Government Cyber Deterrence in Europe
Deterring state cyber activity takes more than cyber tools. A framework for combining economic, diplomatic, military and intelligence levers to constrain adversaries across domains is necessary.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
'Since the release of Mythos and the promotion around Project Glasswing, we have seen a more widely publicised expression of a growing pattern in the AI industry, ... the gatekeeping of model releases under the premise of security concerns.' writes @lmhurel.bsky.social in the latest RUSI Commentary.
rusi.org
Gatekeeping the Frontier: When AI Access Becomes a National Security Concern
The export controls directive limiting access to Anthropic's latest AI models may be the tip of the spear, securitising development in the industry.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
Virtual Routes @virtualroutes.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Curious about a cyber case where opacity, rather than clarity, may be the point? Join our 2nd Winter/Spring Colloquium session: @lmhurel.bsky.social (RUSI) on recent US operations & how layered ambiguity may shape contemporary conflict.🗓️1 April | 4PM CET Sign up: virtual-routes.org/event/layere...
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
New research by @lmhurel.bsky.social and Prerana Joshi shows cyber attribution in the Global South isn’t binary, but a spectrum shaped by politics, economics and risk, challenging Western assumptions about ‘naming and shaming’ as a universal tool of cyber statecraft.
rusi.org
Public Cyber Attribution in the Global South: Indo-Pacific
Global South approaches to public cyber attribution are more cautious than Western approaches, due to factors including cultural background, foreign policy goals and perceptions of western double stan...
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
For our latest RUSI Commentary we have brought together a series of experts to reflect on different aspects of the US National Cyber Strategy. Experts: @piahuesch.bsky.social @lmhurel.bsky.social Dr Gareth Mott Erica D Lonergan James A. Lewis (@csis.org) Conrad Prince CB
rusi.org
Brief, Bold and Beautiful? Reactions on the US National Cyber Strategy
The long-awaited US National Cyber Strategy has just been published, and it's five pages of content have raised considerable questions about how ambition will translate into practice.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
There are some additional and excellent reporting/background on the cyber bit that I’d highly recommend: - secalliance.com/blog/us-and-is… - sophos.com/en-us/blog/cyb����� - sentinelone.com/blog/seg/sentinelo… - halcyon.ai/ransomware-ale… And many others!
secalliance.com
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Ref 3: My colleague had noted earlier jn Feb that operational clarity is an essential element to any potential op. Unfortunately that is getting trickier and trickier with the spread of the conflict to other parts of the Middle East. www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
rusi.org
Control, Alt, Influence: the Potential for US Cyber Operations in Iran
Speculation is mounting over how the US will act if diplomacy fails and a deal with Iran to remove the country’s nuclear capability collapses. As options are debated, ‘cyber’ remains ever elusive.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Ref 2: @jonrlindsay reflects on the mixed signals, objectives and perils of comparing/contrasting US ops. Great read: dolos.substack.com/p/the-perils...
dolos.substack.com
The Perils of Military Professionalism
Operation Epic Fury follows a familiar pattern of military excellence enabling political malpractice
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Ref 1: I’ve written on the ‘layered ambiguity’ of the 🇺🇸 description of cyber in 🇻🇪 following claims that such capabilities had led to a ‘blackout’ in Caracas. www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
rusi.org
Layered Ambiguity: US Cyber Capabilities in the Raid to Extract Maduro from Venezuela
The US operation to remove Maduro succeeded despite fundamental ambiguity about what cyber delivered but that opacity has strategic consequences.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Seventh, uncertainty remains over when and how Iranian cyber activity could expand to directly target the US homeland and its allies, although many are already in alert.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
The layering of uncertainty, as ever, reinforces, the corollary risk is a period of decentralised, proxy-led escalation with limited central restraint, making the coming days particularly volatile and difficult to attribute.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Important to note that we don’t know how much this alleged attack has disrupted the IRGC’s capacity to conduct and plan its cyber campaigns.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Sixth, observing and understanding shifts in priorities, chain of command and use of capabilities within the IRGC in this moment of leadership change will be important albeit difficult esp after the IDF claimed to have hit IRGC’s intel directorate and cyber warfare headquarters.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Fifth, tracking the cognitive effects/psy ops targeting populations in 🇮🇷 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 will be essential. People are talking about the BadeSaba app hack but we need to look at this within a longer timeline (eg 🇮🇷 broadcast being hacked to air regime change narratives+other examples).
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Fourth, with the conflict expanding across the broader Middle East following Iranian retaliatory strikes on US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE, it is also important to monitor hacktivist activities beyond the ‘immediate parties’.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Third, and perhaps more importantly, it will be crucial to continue monitoring how proxies might expand the fog of crisis.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
iii)how the ‘layering’ of intel sources supported by cyber esp can enable strikes of greater precision and therefore limit collateral damage to civilians; (iv) and (again!) an invaluable reminder that cyber is only as good as the other capabilities & intel sources it is paired w/
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
The sequencing of HUMINT, SIGINT and cyber espionage in the killing of the Ayatollah shows: (i) how cyber supports reconnaissance; (ii) how pre-positioning in strategic networks well ahead of an operation can enable it to be used in critical strikes
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Second, as important as non-kinetic ‘effects’ is the layering of those effects with intelligence collection to support in successfully achieving military objectives throughout an operation.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Not to mention that, in the case of Venezuela, infrastructure was suffering from gradual and critical decay & cyber capabilities within the country are far from developed.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Midnight Hammer and Absolute Resolve are more contained. Each contains their own set of risks of escalation, of course. But the objectives and scope are clearer. [2, 3]
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Epic Fury is possibly the most contextually challenging given the leadership decapitation and spillover to other parts of the Middle East and the incredibly ambiguous set of strategic objectives of the US-Israeli intervention.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Op Midnight Hammer, Absolute Resolve and now Epic Fury represent successive opportunities that the US has been using to sharpen the institutional, operational and tactical integration of cyber capabilities in military operations but we should think twice before bundling them up.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Speaking of ‘layering effects’: Gen Caine’s statement uses similar language to the briefing after Op Absolute Resolve in 🇻🇪[1]. However, rather than only mentioning cyber as helping pave the way for the op, it notes this more sustained approach in disrupting comms&sensor netwrks
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Gen Caine’s press conference speech notes two roles for cyber in the ‘layering of effects’: as ‘first-movers’ in using ‘non-kinetic effects’ to shape the environment for the subsequent phases of the Op; secondly, in maintaining a ‘continuous layering’ throughout the first 57hs.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
First, as more information is shared about the operations, these cases might contribute to our ongoing assessment of whether cyber remains more useful as a first-strike enabler, or they may provide additional lessons on how cyber might sustain physical effects.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Some of my initial thoughts for @rusi.bsky.social on a seven areas we should keep in mind when assessing the use of cyber capabilities in the context of the US-Israeli operations in Iran + where we should just please drop the 🔮. 🧵
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
'uncertainty remains over when and how Iranian cyber activity could expand to directly target the US homeland and its allies, although many are already on alert.’ Writes @lmhurel.bsky.social in the latest #RUSICommentary.
rusi.org
Fog, Proxies and Uncertainty: Cyber in US-Israeli Operations in Iran
As Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion develop, several dimensions of cyber activity demand attention and careful qualification.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
'Most governments do not disclose offensive cyber operations. Boasting about capabilities is not the usual game' writes @lmhurel.bsky.social in the latest RUSI Commentary.
rusi.org
Layered Ambiguity: US Cyber Capabilities in the Raid to Extract Maduro from Venezuela
The US operation to remove Maduro succeeded despite fundamental ambiguity about what cyber delivered but that opacity has strategic consequences.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
I don’t argue that it’s new. I think you should read the piece first.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
🎄Merry Christmas from all of us at RUSI!
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Had a marvellous time speaking at Oxford Analytica’s Global Horizons Conference about AI supply chains, tech-trade competition, US-China relations, and the role of AI in the offense-defence balance in cybersecurity w @kellolucas.bsky.social Eduardo Plastino and @tatiabolkvadze.bsky.social.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
The Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cybersecurity recently concluded a five-year negotiation on how nations should behave in cyberspace. Experts who have been tracking these talks offer their insights on the group's progress and what the future holds for the OEWG's goals and themes.
rusi.org
The Rules of the Road in Cyberspace, 10 Years Later
For five years, the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cybersecurity has negotiated key thematic areas which can undermine international stability. Experts following these negotiations weigh in on the...
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 11/08/2025
“This innovation equips drones with side-mounted rocket boosters, enabling them to perform abrupt, high-G maneuvers just seconds before a missile or interceptor strikes. The result: a dramatic increase in the odds that these drones can evade destruction and complete their missions.”
asiadaily.org
China’s Drone Swarms Gain Advanced Evasion Capabilities: The Next Phase of the Global Drone Arms Race
China’s Breakthrough in Drone Swarm Evasion: A New Era in WarfareChina’s military drone program has taken a dramatic leap forward with the unveiling of a new “terminal evasion” technology, a develo…
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
'Cyber attribution is rarely a binary decision. States do not simply jump from silence to confrontation' writes @lmhurel.bsky.social in the latest RUSI Commentary on the implications of Singapore calling out a Chinese-linked cyber threat actor group for the first time.
rusi.org
What Singapore's First Public Cyber Attribution Tells Us
For the first time, Singapore has called out a China-linked cyber threat actor group, to the chagrin of Asia's regional hegemon.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 22/07/2025
Fiona Hill, a former aide to President Trump, recently returned to her roots in northeastern England, advising Britain on defense. She still has her eye on global threats.
trib.al
Fiona Hill on Trump, Putin and Why Great Powers Fall
The former White House aide recently returned to her roots, advising Britain on defense and taking a role at Durham University in northeastern England. She still has her eye on global threats.
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Had a great time sitting down with @ciaranm.bsky.social @euben.bsky.social to discuss ‘The Evolution of Chinese Cyber Statecraft’ in a conversation chaired by Conrad Prince. The recording of our @rusi.bsky.social event is now available here: www.rusi.org/research-eve...
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
The UK’s new National Security Strategy reaffirms its ambition to spend 5% of GDP on natsec in line with NATO—but beyond headlines, what’s actually changing in UK security thinking? My @rusi.bsky.social colleagues and I unpack the narratives on cyber, military, economic, and geopolitical strategy.👇🏻
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
The UK’s new National Security Strategy reaffirms its ambition to spend 5% of GDP on natsec in line with NATO—but beyond headlines, what’s actually changing in UK security thinking? My @rusi.bsky.social colleagues and I unpack the narratives on cyber, military, economic, and geopolitical strategy.👇🏻
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Iran executed Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi-Shayesteh, accused of leading “a cyber team linked to Mossad under the guise of an immigration consultancy, and reportedly met Mossad agents in a neighbouring country.” on.ft.com/4eeUBjj
on.ft.com
Iranian paramilitaries go on the hunt for Mossad agents
Islamic republic’s Basij force has spearheaded crackdown in which hundreds of alleged collaborators have been arrested
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
Ciaran Martin @ciaranm.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
A better quality version of the cartoon
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
Ciaran Martin @ciaranm.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
I (almost) entirely agree with this. A lot, but not all of the narrative around AI is hype. Caveat: I’m not an AI specialist but like a lot of cyber experts I get annoyed with AI hype distracting people from fixing long-standing problems with the tech we already have. Anyway. A few thoughts: 🧵 1/
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
A timely piece on the cyber/hybrid dimensions of Operation Sindoor by Sameer Patil for @rusi.bsky.social. "The recent conflict between 🇮🇳🇵🇰was another instance of cyber warfare in parallel w kinetic attacks, w increased activity in the info space." www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
rusi.org
Operation Sindoor and India-Pakistan’s Escalated Rivalry in Cyberspace
The recent conflict between India and Pakistan was another instance of cyber warfare in parallel with kinetic attacks, with increased activity in the information space.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
Catalin Cimpanu @campuscodi.risky.biz · 19/06/2025
Predatory Sparrow has dumped the Nobitex crytpo platform source code on Telegram They previously stole $90mil worth of assets in a hack yesterday t.me/gonjeshkdara...
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Louise Marie Hurel @lmhurel.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Super interesting to see how Trump’s second term has been legitimising or at least stimulating a sort of ‘Silicon Valley patriotism’. US army’s new ‘Detachment 201’ initiative is recruiting senior tech executives to serve part-time in the Army Reserve. www.army.mil/article/2863...
army.mil
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
📺No longer a Western monopoly, public cyber attribution is now used by diverse nations like China, Iran, Venezuela, and Ethiopia for their own strategic gains. @lmhurel.bsky.social explores how their clashing narratives risk eroding trust in fostering responsible cyberspace behaviour: bit.ly/4jovhZ2
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Joe Slowik @pylos.co · 27/05/2025
Just read a CTI/threat actor blog that used the word "sophisticated" FOUR TIMES in the first paragraph.
media.tenor.com
a man sits at a desk in front of a computer and a bulletin board with a map on it
ALT: a man sits at a desk in front of a computer and a bulletin board with a map on it
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
To truly grasp responsible cyber behaviour, we must look beyond UN discussions and Western perspectives, taking into account the significant influence of cultural values, regional alliances, and domestic factors. Our new paper by @lmhurel.bsky.social offers that broader conceptual lens.
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Reposted by Louise Marie Hurel
RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
🧵🚨New RUSI paper, "New Ways to Frame Responsible Cyber Behaviour Beyond the UN", by @lmhurel.bsky.social, which argues that understanding Responsible Cyber Behaviour (RCB) requires looking beyond the UN framework is out now!
rusi.org
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