In the latest episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, cyber conflict expert Max Smeets—senior researcher at ETH Zurich and co-director of Virtual Routes—draws on his books “No Shortcuts” and “Ransom War” to explore why most states struggle to build effective cyber forces and how ransomware has become a major national security threat. He breaks down the contrasting cyber strategies of the US, China, and Russia, the rise of professionalized ransomware groups like Conti, and what it takes for governments to build capable cyber commands. A must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the evolving frontlines of cyber conflict.

Chapters

00:00 Trailer

03:37 Introduction to the Great Tech Game Podcast

03:51 Meet Max Smeets: Cybersecurity Expert

06:04 Max's Journey from Finance to Cyber Warfare

08:22 Discussing No Shortcuts: Challenges in Cyber Command

17:11 Global Cyber Strategies: US vs China

27:09 Building Cyber Capacity: The PETIO Framework

46:38 Ransomware: A Growing National Security Threat

52:03 Evolution of Ransomware

53:30 The Rise of Conti

55:03 Global Ransomware Landscape

59:14 Ransomware Trust Paradox

1:02:48 Conti Group and the MOB Framework

1:09:45 Ransomware Attack Lifecycle

1:19:36 Government Responses to Ransomware

1:25:25 Comparing Ransomware to APTs and Terrorist Groups

1:29:14 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

Book Links:

By Max Smeets

No Shortcuts: Why States Struggle to Develop a Military Cyber-Force:-https://a.co/d/03FfTol

Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became a Threat to National Security:-https://a.co/d/2FuXaWS

By Anirudh Suri:

The Great Tech Game by Anirudh Suri - https://amzn.eu/d/1Su38My

Follow Anirudh here:

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/anirudhsuri

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirudhsuri/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anirudh_suri

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnirudhSuri.in

Website: http://www.anirudhsuri.com/

Book and Podcast: http://www.greattechgame.com/

#cyber #cybersecurity #cyberwarfare #ransomware #cybercrime #hackers #tech #geopolitics #thegreattechgame #thegreattechgamepodcast #tgtgpodcast #anirudhsuri #maxsmeets

Teresa Giudice’s daughter drama, Tamra's health scare, plus exclusive Scandoval tea from Jax Taylor