Louise Marie Hurel

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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...

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.👇🏻

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.👇🏻

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

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

A better quality version of the cartoon

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/

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.

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-...

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...

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...

📺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

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

Just read a CTI/threat actor blog that used the word "sophisticated" FOUR TIMES in the first paragraph.

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.

🧵🚨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!

China’s rare earths controls prompt fears of auto shortages and shutdowns Traders and executives warn of limited inventories and a risk of disruption to automotive production

China’s rare earths controls prompt fears of auto shortages and shutdowns
“It’s a form of retaliation where the 🇨🇳 government can say ‘OK, we’re not going to go tit-for-tat any more on the tariff rate but we will hurt you 🇺🇸 & incentivise companies to plead to change tariff policy’” on.ft.com/42ujjqk

OpenAI and SoftBank weigh UK investment for Stargate AI project US $500bn data centre venture looks overseas to build out global infrastructure capacity

OpenAI and SoftBank weigh UK investment for Stargate AI project.

While the focus remains on American infrastructure, investment in the UK has been considered as part of a future international expansion if the project proves successful. on.ft.com/4jEgsCh

Me every time a new piece of news comes out

Exclusive: Germany funds Eutelsat internet in Ukraine as Musk tensions rise Berlin has been paying for Ukraine's access to a satellite-internet network operated by France's Eutelsat , as Europe seeks alternatives to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Big update on the search for an alternative to Starlink in Ukraine.

www.reuters.com/business/med...

Trump Imposes Tariffs on Remote Islands Some of the more sparsely populated territories in the world that do little trade with the United States have been caught up in the trade war.

"Some territories face even higher tariffs than their governing nations. Norfolk Island, an Australian territory in the South Pacific Ocean, faces 29 percent tariffs, compared with the 10 percent rate Mr. Trump imposed on the country."

I would suggest then read @ciaranm.bsky.social latest piece for @rusi.bsky.social 👇🏻

bsky.app/profile/rusi...

Exclusive: Gen. Paul Nakasone says China is now our biggest cyber threat More than a year away from leading the NSA and Cyber Command, Paul Nakasone told the Click Here podcast that they could ask him anything. So they did. About China, AI, DOGE and more.

I’m a great fan of @therecordmedia.bsky.social Click Here podcast. The lastest one with former NSA/USCYBERCOM chief Paul Nakasone is a must.
He reflects on the rising sophistication of Chinese threat actors and the role of AI in boosting cyber defence.

therecord.media/nakasone-int...

Govs, companies, & CSOs are heading to Paris this week for the 2nd meeting of the Pall Mall Process to discuss a code of practice to tackle the irresponsible use of commercial cyber capabilities.
We brought together a group of experts to reflect on what to expect from the meeting.👇

Glad to see this important report come to life & to have contributed a chapter on the Middle East & Africa. Thanks to all the researchers & practitioners who joined our regionally-focused workshops & to the fantastic @lmhurel.bsky.social & the @rusi.bsky.social team for making this happen!

Limits of Economic Deterrence in the US-China Tech Competition The maximalist US approach to deterring China's digital competition may not be served well by economic measures alone.

In the latest #RUSICommentary, @lmhurel.bsky.social and Rogier Creemers explore the limitations of using purely economic tools to counter China's growing influence in the digital sphere.

🎙2025 is a pivotal year for international cyber governance. It marks both the tenth anniversary of the global framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and the conclusion of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on ICTs.

Status update: Responsible state behaviour in cyberspace Status update: Responsible state behaviour in cyberspace

To learn more about how countries have implemented responsible cyber behaviour amidst these significant developments, check out the newest podcast from ASPI, where RUSI's @lmhurel.bsky.social shares her insights.

Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Stop Offensive Cyberoperations Against Russia The defense secretary’s instructions, which were given before President Trump’s blowup with the Ukrainian president, are apparently part of an effort to draw Russia into talks on the war.

Very much in line with the dynamics at the OEWG UN negotiations in NY last week—all the 🇺🇸naming and shaming focused on 🇨🇳.

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to halt offensive operations against Russia.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/u...

New: At least 8 lawsuits are trying to block DOGE from accessing sensitive govt data, from tax returns to student-loan records.

All of them rely in part on the Privacy Act of 1974.

But what is this law — and can it stop Elon Musk?

My @wired.com story: www.wired.com/story/privac...

More DOGE-driven job cuts today at CISA, where folks defend civilian government and critical infrastructure from nation-state hackers and ransomware gangs. More than 100, across many teams.