Virtual Routes

Authored by: @maxwsmeets.bsky.social (Virtual Routes), @jamiemaccoll.bsky.social (RUSI), Sophie Williams-Dunning (RUSI), and @bobherc.bsky.social (Virtual Routes)

Pharos Report No. 4 | Assessing the Impact of Ransomware Interventions and Countermeasures: A Framework The fourth report of the Pharos Series, a joint project of Virtual Routes and Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), is authored by Max Smeets, Jamie MacColl, Sophie Williams-Dunning and Bob Herczeg.

Read the full report: virtual-routes.org/pharos-repor...

[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.

📬Our February newsletter drops tomorrow!

Don't miss our upcoming events & deadlines, Munich Security Conference insights, new office & team member, program impacts, new research and publications + community updates.

Sign up here: mailchi.mp/virtual-rout...

“AI can help you sort the hay, but not decide what the needle is.” This AI over Lunch with Aline Duchateau, former Director ICT & Police Information and Chief Superintendent at the Belgian Federal Police, moves beyond AI hype to institutional reality. Read more: virtual-routes.org/ai-over-lunc...

Our Cybersecurity Services Centre is now operating at full scale, supporting community organizations across Europe through trusted partnerships with @detectify.bsky.social, Phished, @proton.me, and @yubico.com, with support from Google.org. Learn more & apply: virtual-routes.org/cybersecurit...

Delighted to share that Virtual Routes has joined the UK @ncsc.gov.uk Industry 100 (i100) programme, bringing together expertise from across the cybersecurity ecosystem to support the UK’s national cyber mission. What does this mean in practice? Read more: virtual-routes.org/virtual-rout...

Thank you!

Virtual Routes is joining the Future of Work in the Age of AI: Our Co-Directors @jamesshires.bsky.social @maxwsmeets.bsky.social will attend and speak alongside 700+ leaders exploring how to build an AI-ready workforce for a competitive & secure Europe. 👉Read more: virtual-routes.org/future-of-wo...

🤝Happy to share our new partnership with @yubico.com in the Cybersecurity Services Centre! Through the program, participating organisations will receive free YubiKeys & guidance to implement smooth multi-factor authentication. Applications are open: virtual-routes.org/cybersecurit... #NonProfit #MFA

YouTube video by Virtual Routes Binding Hook–MSC Essay Prize Competition Recap | Digital Sovereignty & Europe’s Cybersecurity

Recap: An exciting moment at #MSC2026! Virtual Routes was proud to host a timely conversation on European cyber resilience and to present the Binding Hook–MSC Essay Prize, exploring how digital sovereignty might shape Europe’s cybersecurity & strategic future. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Tj...

Join the first session of our Colloquium Winter/Spring, where Dr. Eugenio Lilli (University College Dublin) presents his research about Iran's strategic offensive cyber power, with Alessia Tortolini as discussant.

Feb 18, 2026 @ 16:00 CET.

Sign up→ virtual-routes.org/event/strate...

Read the abstract here👇

New article in @journalpolitics.bsky.social (@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social): Our Co-Directors @jamesshires.bsky.social & @maxwsmeets.bsky.social examine how far can the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) explain the policy dynamics of cyber warfare. Read more: doi.org/10.1177/0263...

Awarding the Binding Hook–MSC Essay Prize on Digital Sovereignty At this year’s Munich Security Conference, Virtual Routes contributed to the discussion on digital sovereignty and cybersecurity and presented the Binding Hook–MSC Essay Prize.

Read more about the awarding panel here: virtual-routes.org/awarding-the... #MSC2026 #MSCreport

At this year’s @munsecconf.bsky.social, we're proud to support the conversation on digital sovereignty & cyber security, one of Europe’s most urgent debates. Honoured to see Eva Maydell, @shashj.bsky.social, & @argv.bsky.social in the panel & present the Binding Hook–MSC Essay Prize to Josh Gold.

The winning essays are here! 🥁 Binding Hook and the @munsecconf.bsky.social (MSC) are pleased to share the five winning entries from this year’s Binding Hook-MSC Essay Prize Competition. Read more: bindinghook.com/announcing-t...

🗓️Virtual Routes Colloquium returns for Winter/Spring (Feb–May 2026): Flexing Tech Muscle: Power, Conflict, & Cyber Statecraft in a Contested World, covering Iran, US–Venezuela, Israel–Palestine, & cyber statecraft under competition. Read more & sign up: virtual-routes.org/virtual-rout...

AI over Lunch: Pierre Ciparisse - Virtual Routes In rainy Brussels, Major General Pierre Ciparisse, Cyber Force Commander at the Belgian Cyber Command, reflects on cyber and AI in modern defence, stressing legal oversight, human judgment, and Europe...

Over lunch with Major General Pierre Ciparisse, Belgium’s Cyber Force Commander, a clear theme emerges: rapid technological change is redefining #military ops from comms & #cybersecurity to the role of #AI in decision-making. What this means in practice? Read more: virtual-routes.org/ai-over-lunc...

Vacancies - Virtual Routes Virtual Routes is an equal opportunity employer.

Explore all our current open roles here: virtual-routes.org/vacancies/

Project Officer (London, Hybrid) As a Project Officer at Virtual Routes, you will support the delivery of high-impact initiatives on cybersecurity and emerging technologies in global affairs.

Apply for the Project Officer (London, Hybrid, Full-time) position here: virtual-routes.org/vacancies/pr...

Senior Policy Researcher / Director - Emerging Technologies (London, Hybrid) As a Senior Policy Researcher / Director at Virtual Routes, you will lead policy-relevant research on emerging technologies in global affairs. Your work will inform policy discussions, contribute to p...

Apply for the Senior Policy Researcher / Director – Emerging Technologies (London, Hybrid, Full-time) position here: virtual-routes.org/vacancies/se...

We’re #hiring in London! Virtual Routes is expanding into a new office and seeking a Senior Policy Researcher/Director and Project Officer. Apply via links in the replies. #CybersecurityJobs #JobsInLondon

Virtual Routes: No longer (just) virtual! We are excited to announce that in 2026 Virtual Routes will be taking another big step: moving into a new office space in London.

Excited to announce that Virtual Routes will be taking another big step: moving into a new office space in London. This permanent space will help us to expand our reach, scale up our activities and develop new formats for collaboration and exchange. Read more: virtual-routes.org/office-annou...

This service is provided free through our Cybersecurity Services Centre, a program offering tailored #cybersecurity services for community organisations across Europe, with the support from Google.org.

Applications are now open 👉 virtual-routes.org/cybersecurit...
#NonProfit #DigitalSafety

Virtual Routes is excited to share that through a partnership with Phished.io, we are able to help organisations practise spotting these attacks in a safe, supportive way, using realistic simulations and tailored learning.

Most #cyber incidents start with a message that looks ordinary. #Phishing attacks can happen to anyone, especially in community organisations where trust is part of everyday work.

YouTube video by Virtual Routes Virtual Routes European Cybersecurity Fellowship Testimonial from Nikolas Ott (2022–2023 Fellow)

⏰ 4 more days until applications close for the 2026–2027 European Cybersecurity Fellowship! As a fellow, you’ll take part in expert-led workshops, policy writing and debate sessions, and in-depth discussions on real-world challenges. Apply now: virtual-routes.org/initiatives/...
youtu.be/pNJrBIY8vH8

What if speed isn’t the real challenge in #cybersecurity? Over lunch in Brussels, Roberto Cascella, CTO of @ecso_eu, shared insights about AI, organizational readiness, and why rushing without strategy often means missing what truly matters. Read more: virtual-routes.org/ai-over-lunc...

A Year of Hands-On Cybersecurity Training at Johannesburg Business School Virtual Routes co-director Max Smeets attended the certificate ceremony for the first-year cohort of Johannesburg Business School students taking part in the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminar Program, ...

🎉 1-Year of Google.org #Cybersecurity Seminars program at Johannesburg Business School (JBS), South Africa. We visited JBS for the first cohort’s certificate ceremony and hackathon, seeing hands-on training in action & actionable security findings. Read more: virtual-routes.org/cybersecurit...