On 19 July, Apolline Rolland, Researcher at Virtual Routes, attended the closing ceremony of the first session of the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars Program at Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.| Virtual Routes
On 30th June, 2025, Virtual Routes Project Officer YuYing Mak visited Romania’s Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (UTCN) to attend the closing event for the first run of UTCN’s Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program.| Virtual Routes
This report looks at how much research has been published on the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity by policy think tanks.| Virtual Routes
On 10 June, Virtual Routes Co-Director James Shires spoke at the annual Research & Teaching Day of the US Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, organized by the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity at the University of California, Berkeley.| Virtual Routes
Last week at the Internet Governance Forum 2025, Apolline Rolland, Policy Researcher at Virtual Routes, presented new research under the EU Horizon Europe-funded REMIT project on how emerging technologies shape cybersecurity futures.| Virtual Routes
On June 17, Virtual Routes hosted a roundtable in Brussels, bringing together cybersecurity and policy experts from the public and private sectors to discuss challenges and policy issues in the water sector.| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes are proud to have contributed to the recent Google.org Impact Summit, held in early June in London, UK. As the first Impact Summit held outside the US, this event had a special focus on technology philanthropy in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)| Virtual Routes
We are excited to launch the AI-Cybersecurity Research and Policy Hub, a new network supporting researchers, policy experts, and practitioners in building their skills, collaborating on projects related to AI and cybersecurity, and contributing to impactful, real-world policy and practice.| Virtual Routes
The report identifies which parts of Europe’s critical infrastructure are most in need of targeted cybersecurity support and outlines what forms of assistance would be most effective. It focuses in particular on the drinking water and wastewater sectors, which are increasingly exposed to cyber threats but receive limited investment and exhibit low cybersecurity maturity.| Virtual Routes
On May 17, YuYing Mak, Project Officer at Virtual Routes, attended the inaugural session of Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma’s (UCBM) Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars in Rome, Italy.| Virtual Routes
This marks the first time Virtual Routes will independently implement the program, after supporting its successful deployment in higher education institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.| Virtual Routes
The third report in the Pharos Series, Ransomware’s New Masters: How States Are Hijacking Cybercrime is authored by Aleksandar Milenkoski, Jiro Minier, Julian-Ferdinand Vögele, Max Smeets, and Taylor Grossman.| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes is pleased to release the second report in the Pharos Series, The Ransomware Trust Paradox by Max Smeets.| Virtual Routes
On 7 April, the Ecole Superieure d’Informatique, Electronique, Automatique (ESIEA) launched its Cybersecurity Seminars program at its campus in Paris.| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes welcomes Apolline Rolland to the team as a Policy Researcher in Cyber and Emerging Technologies. Prior to joining Virtual Routes, Apolline worked as a cyber and strategic intelligence consultant at Forward Global.| Virtual Routes
On 3-4 April, the second conference of the Pall Mall Process took place in Paris. The Pall Mall Process is a multistakeholder initiative launched by the UK and French governments to address the risks of commercial cyber intrusion capabilities (CCICs).| Virtual Routes
If there is high demand and limited space for the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars Program, universities may use this intake questionnaire as a guide to help select a diverse and balanced group of students while ensuring maximum impact and inclusion.| Virtual Routes
The Virtual Routes European Cybersecurity Fellowship welcomes fifteen new fellows for 2025-2026 from government, civil society, academia and the private sector.| Virtual Routes
We are pleased to announce Binding Hook Live, a one-of-a-kind event bringing together leading voices in cybersecurity and emerging technologies. Hosted by Binding Hook, part of Virtual Routes, this exclusive event takes place at the iconic Underbelly Boulevard Soho in London on October 27, 2025.| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes is launching the Pharos Report Series, a new report series shedding light on cybersecurity and emerging technology challenges. The series aims to offer clear expert insights helping policymakers, researchers, and practitioners navigate evolving threats.| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes welcomes Anna Sophie den Ouden to the team as a Junior Researcher. Anna Sophie researches (big) tech policy, AI governance, cyber conflict, and the geopolitics of digital infrastructures. She previously held roles at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and the United Nations Project Office on Governance. She also conducts research and manages […]| Virtual Routes
On March 4, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Vilnius Tech) announced the launch of its Google.org Cybersecurity Seminar program, supported by Virtual Routes. Designed to equip students with practical cybersecurity skills, the program focuses on real-world problem-solving and direct engagement with local organizations. As cybersecurity threats grow in complexity, traditional education…| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes is pleased to welcome Gijs van Loon to the team as Policy Researcher on Cyber and Emerging Technologies, and Karolina Gruzel as Communications Officer.| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes continued its central contribution to the Horizon Europe project on Reigniting Multilateralism Through Technology (REMIT) at its annual meeting in Brussels, on 12 and 13 February.| Virtual Routes
The event was co-organized with the Bavarian Scientific Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security. The Alliance is a collaboration of currently nine universities in Bavaria, funded by the Bavarian government, that aims to join academic forces in peace and conflict research and strengthen ties to political and civil society actors. The session explored the intersection […]| Virtual Routes
It’s time! Binding Hook, the media outlet part of Virtual Routes, and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) are pleased to share the winning essays from the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition.| Virtual Routes
In January, the Binding Hook team sent out their very first collection of Contributor Cards, thanking the authors for their contribution to the platform over the past year.| Virtual Routes
Today marks an exciting development in the effort to improve global cybersecurity education: the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminar program has expanded its reach beyond Europe to include higher education institutions across the Middle East and Africa| Virtual Routes
Virtual Routes Colloquium is back with a brilliant lineup of speakers for the spring session (February-May 2025) calendar! This year, the sessions focus on power and control in cyberspace.| Virtual Routes
On Wednesday 29 January, Virtual Routes Co-Director Dr James Shires attended the launch of the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program in Poland. Senior representatives from the two participating universities - Warsaw University of Technology and Adam Mickiewicz University - officially started their programs, aiming to provide practical cybersecurity education to students and impactful cybersecurity assistance to local communities.| Virtual Routes
We are excited to announce the Ransomware Countermeasures Tracker, a resource created to identify trends in government actions against ransomware, highlight areas where we see more or less activity, and establish a baseline of awareness that can support future analyses of government effectiveness.| Virtual Routes
Merle Maigre is the Programme Director of Cybersecurity at Estonia’s e-Governance Academy. Previously she was Executive Vice President for Government Relations at CybExer Technologies, an Estonian company that provides cyber range based trainings.| Virtual Routes
In December 2024, Virtual Routes co-organised two sessions at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).| Virtual Routes
We are excited to announce that Virtual Routes has been nominated in the International Policy Impact category for the Second Annual Cyber Policy Awards™.| Virtual Routes
Binding Hook editor Katharine Khamhaengwong looks back at 2024 and our first year of publication| Virtual Routes
Max Smeets, Co-Director of Virtual Routes, recently delivered a keynote at LABSCON on his upcoming book, "Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became a Threat to National Security." We are excited to announce that the video of this insightful talk is now available online.| Virtual Routes
As we close out 2024, it is a good time to reflect on a year that has brought significant changes and achievements for Virtual Routes. This year, the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative and the European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator continued jointly under the new Virtual Routes brand.| Virtual Routes
The European Cybersecurity Fellowship is a one-year program for talented professionals in Europe aiming to advance their careers in cybersecurity policy. Organized by Virtual Routes, the fellowship provides unique opportunities for learning, collaboration, and professional development in one of the most critical fields today.| Virtual Routes
On December 10th, Virtual Routes co-director James Shires joined a panel of experts at the AI Summit at BlackHat Europe on "Navigating Standards, Regulations, and Risk Management in AI for Cybersecurity." His remarks focused on the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and implications for governance, regulation, and education.| Virtual Routes
On December 9, Riga Technical University (RTU) announced the launch of their Google.org Cybersecurity Seminar program. Virtual Routes supports the implementation of the program.| Virtual Routes
The European Cybersecurity Fellowship, one of Virtual Routes' flagship programs, is a year-long initiative designed to help highly talented young European professionals advance their careers in cybersecurity policy.| Virtual Routes
Dr Jamie Collier is the Lead Threat Intelligence Advisor in EMEA at Google Cloud. He works with organisations to help them understand their threat landscape and build threat intelligence capabilities. Before joining Google, he was the Cyber Threat Intelligence Team Lead at Digital Shadows and completed a PhD in Cyber Security at the University of […]| Virtual Routes
This guide provides best practices for higher education institutions when engaging with Local Community Organizations (LCOs) in practical cybersecurity education, especially as part of the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars.| Virtual Routes
We are excited to introduce the Cybersecurity and AI Readings Portal, a resource created as part of our Cybersecurity Seminar Program supported by Google.org. This portal is designed to assist instructors at universities across the world in building their syllabus for courses in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. You can access the portal here. What is […]| Virtual Routes
Munich Security Conference (MSC) and Binding Hook proudly announce the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition, inviting experts to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on cybersecurity.| Virtual Routes
On October 24-25, the annual ECCRI field trip brought the European Cybersecurity Fellows to Brussels for an intensive two-day agenda with key EU, NATO, and industry stakeholders. As the main highlight of the fellowship, this visit offered Fellows a chance to engage with officials, explore pressing cybersecurity issues, and deepen their understanding of policy dynamics. […]| Virtual Routes
This report, researched during summer 2024, examines the increased use of AI chatbots in academia following the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 and the response by educational institutions through AI detection tools.| Virtual Routes
This guide provides an overview of best practices for incorporating equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into practical cybersecurity education, especially in the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program.| Virtual Routes
In a new report released today, ECCRI explores how states attach strategic value to digital technologies. Combining conceptual insights and practical applications, the report introduces and assesses a comprehensive framework designed to identify the strategic properties of critical and emerging technologies. Its findings offer guidance for navigating the opportunities and challenges brought about by digital […]| Virtual Routes
On 27 June, ECCRI held the inaugural Oxford Cyber Forum, in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.| Virtual Routes
On 13 June, ECCRI CIC Co-Director James Shires spoke at the AI Summit in London. His remarks, on a panel about improving enterprise cybersecurity, focused on the role of AI in transforming the cybersecurity workforce. AI is increasingly integrated into threat intelligence and cyber defense. From the use of large language models (LLMs) to summarize […]| Virtual Routes
From 16 to 17 May 2024, the ECCRI team and community members presented at REMIT’s 1st Conference at KU Leuven in Belgium. Held as part of the REMIT Horizon Europe project, the two-day conference was filled with engaging sessions and fresh perspectives on the intersection of technology and multilateralism. ECCRI leads REMIT’s research stream on […]| Virtual Routes
The Cyber Education Pathways Initiative is an unprecedented drive to build enduring cybersecurity capabilities worldwide, focusing particularly on countries and regions with limited current opportunities for such education. To learn more about how you can participate or to apply, please reach out to us at CEPI@virtual-routes.org. The Cyber Education Pathways Initiative (CEPI) is a comprehensive […]| Virtual Routes
النص العربي أدناه Cybersecurity diplomacy is a fast-growing sub-field of cybersecurity, helping a highly elaborate and ritualized sphere of politics to adjust to threats stemming from new digital technologies. Over the last few months, ECCRI CIC has been raising awareness of the importance of cybersecurity diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa. In February, […]| Virtual Routes
The ECCRI European Cybersecurity Fellowship welcomes fourteen new fellows for 2024-2025 from government, civil society, academia and the private sector. “Each year, welcoming our new fellows is a moment of pure excitement for me. The 2024-2025 group is no exception, bringing a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives. We’ve lined up an exciting set of […]| Virtual Routes
Google.org and the European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator are excited to announce the extension of the European Cybersecurity Seminars program to all 27 EU countries. Universities from any EU country – other than the seven EU countries receiving grants in the initial phase – are invited to apply to a second Open Call, launching on 8 April […]| Virtual Routes
You’ve spent weeks, months, or years researching a topic and you’d like to share your findings with a wider audience. You’re an expert academic writer and know how to bulletproof your work against peer review. But to reach a wider audience, the research needs to be presented a different way – a way that may […]| Virtual Routes
Key Finding 1 THE AVAILABILITY OF CYBERSECURITY DEGREE PROGRAMS VARIES ACROSS EUROPE Students interested in cybersecurity have multiple options to choose from for their university education. On average, we found 28 cybersecurity degrees per country across a total of 109 universities. However, the number of available degrees varies across each of the seven countries. At […]| Virtual Routes
During 20-21 December 2023, ECCRI in collaboration with KU Leuven organised a workshop focused on the nature of strategic digital technologies, such as 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, cloud-based infrastructure, or quantum computing. Held under the umbrella of the REMIT Horizon Europe project, the workshop convened the partner institutions of the work package researching the economic and […]| Virtual Routes
texte en français ci-dessous On Thursday 30 November, ECCRI CIC spoke about the Google.org European Cybersecurity Seminars program at the Google Research Day on AI Safety, Security, and Privacy in Paris, France. The Cybersecurity Seminars program was a perfect fit for a day filled with the latest research on AI safety and security, attended by […]| Virtual Routes
texto en español abajo The European Cybersecurity Seminar program was officially announce on November 29, 2023, in Malaga. This announcement, made by the European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator (ECCRI CIC) in partnership with Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, coincided with the inauguration of Google’s new office in the city. In a fireside chat, Max Smeets, Co-Director […]| Virtual Routes
Three ECCRI Cybersecurity 2023-2024 Fellows – Cat Easdon, Aideen Fay, and Nils Brinker – presented their research at the 18th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) that was hosted by the Government of Japan in Kyoto from 8 to 12 October 2023. The trip was made possible with the help of an additional […]| Virtual Routes
It’s here! The European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative (ECCRI) is happy and proud to introduce Binding Hook, a new media outlet to gather expert perspectives on digital and emerging technologies and security. Managing Editors Max Smeets and James Shires are thrilled to introduce you to this new platform and here’s why. Why Binding Hook exists […]| Virtual Routes
ECCRI welcomes Dan Black and Jamie MacColl as the inaugural Senior Research Associates to the newly launched Associate program. Dan Black is a Principal Analyst on the Cyber Espionage team at Google’s Mandiant, where he specializes in analysis of Russia’s cyber program and the broader dynamics of competition and conflict in cyberspace. Dan was previously […]| Virtual Routes
ECCRI will lead the technology governance work package of the REMIT consortium from March 2023 for a span of four years. The project has been granted a total of 3 million euros and is coordinated by the University of Maastricht. Read more From November 26, 2024, the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative (ECCRI) and the […]| Virtual Routes
On the 28th of February 2023, the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative (ECCRI) held a workshop to reflect on wartime cyber operations in Ukraine, supported by the UK National Cyber Security Centre.| Virtual Routes
What key lessons can we draw from the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine about the role of cyber operations in military conflict? How do Russian cyber operations differ in wartime compared to peacetime activity? And what cyber activity can we expect in the months ahead? On 30 May, the European…| Virtual Routes