iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

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...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

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.

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

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

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

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!

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

With the Underbelly Boulevard Soho in London, we have chosen a venue that makes it easy to shift gears - from larger keynotes to lightning talks, and smaller closed-door fireside chats (and maybe even a bit of live music in between).

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Very solid education-to-buck ratio at ETH! What also impresses me is that lower staff like RAs are relatively well paid (& PhDs well funded). Very different from when I was scraping by during my PhD, teaching at 5 colleges in Oxford (and doing tennis coaching) www.tagesanzeiger.ch/eth-zuerich-...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

The deadline for the European Cybersecurity Fellowship is just two days away. Applications close this Sunday at 23:59 CET. To apply, you must be under 35 and reside in a European country (includes non-EU..) virtual-routes.org/virtual-rout...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Now n the train back from Munich after a few intense days at @munsecconf.bsky.social Some new ideas. AI was of course front and center. Both the regulatory and policy landscape is shifting & the Q what AI will (not) change is still being figured out. And yet, there was also a sense of déjà vu..

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

An insightful discussion with Christopher Ahlberg, Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, and Anne Neuberger on how technology is reshaping warfare.

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Little present placed on my chair at GSEC Munich - not a lot of new info in the report, but useful for agenda setting

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

3/3 In the book, I distinguish between 11 stages of Conti's MO/Playbook:

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

1/3 Just got my first review for Ransom War. A fair point that it is not exactly for the general reader. As the reviewer notes, I argue that understanding ransomware groups requires looking at their Modus Operandi, Organizational Structure, and Branding & Reputation (what I call the MOB Framework.)

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

This past week was a special one with the launch of Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became a Threat to National Security. After all the time spent on this.., seeing the book finally out and getting to talk about it with so many sharp minds is something I won’t forget!

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

The Tracker is based on a dataset I developed for the last chapter of my forthcoming book, Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became a Threat to National Security www.amazon.co.uk/Ransom-War-B...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Are you a graduate student interested in tech and global affairs, looking for a flexible one-day-a-week job alongside your studies? We have openings in various fields at @virtualroutes.bsky.social! Come join us! virtual-routes.org/vacancies/

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

This aspect of restructuring authority between NSA and USCYBERCOM in light of a dual-hat split is one I hadn’t considered before:

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 virtual-routes.org/virtual-rout...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

A great group of scholars contributed to this edited volume:

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

The final stretch begins - book proofs have arrived!

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 12/09/2024

I am excited to announce my new book “Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became a Threat to National Security” published by Oxford University Press and Hurst Publishers, out in February 2025

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 20/02/2024

My admiration for the NCA has doubled: the disruption of Lockbit, and their unwavering commitment to academic engagement, not cancelling our Monday afternoon exchanges amidst everything that was going on. I had a blast.

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 16/02/2024

I'm incredibly excited about the newly announced expansion of ECCRI CIC's collaboration with Google for the Cybersecurity Seminars Program. cyberseminars.org

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 04/02/2024

Heading back from Amsterdam..

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 04/01/2024

We created a step-by-step guide on how to set up and apply for a 1 million USD Google.org Cybersecurity Seminar Grant. europeancyber.org/a-step-by-st...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 07/11/2023

I am really excited to launch Binding Hook with an amazing editorial team. We aim to provide a platform that sheds light on the synergy and friction between technology and security. www.bindinghook.com

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 03/11/2023

ECCRI welcomes Dan Black and Jamie MacColl as the inaugural Senior Research Associates to the newly launched Associate program. eccri.eu/the-eccri-la...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 02/11/2023

Over the years, James has been a cornerstone for ECCRI, both as a co-founder and a trustee. Thrilled to have him now as a co-director. We have several new projects lined up for the near future. More announcements to follow soon. Exciting times ahead! eccri.eu/the-eccri-we...

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 27/10/2023

I exchanged a few @bindinghook.bsky.social caps for Hewlett foundation stickers. Good or bad trade?

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 20/10/2023

Preparing my slides for the ETH Zurich conference on 'The Political Economy of Cyber Conflict'. Excited to present my new book project for the first time outside of ETH CSS!

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 06/07/2023

Some misprinted copies of "No Shortcuts" hardback are out there, and they don't match the quality of the original edition that sold out. I apologize to those who spent a lot on it and got this version. To make it up to you, here's what I'll do:

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 01/07/2023

Extremely excited about this new project. More details to follow soon!

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Max Smeets @maxwsmeets.bsky.social · 09/06/2023

This is a great overview from Orange cyberdefense team: github.com/cert-orangecyberdefense/…

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