Alexander Martin
@alexmartin.bsky.social
Journalist covering cybersecurity and intelligence. UK Editor at The Record from Recorded Future News. Dad of two.
🏠 Sheffield
📧 alexander.martin@therecord.media
📱 Signal: AlexanderMartin.79
🏠 Sheffield
📧 alexander.martin@therecord.media
📱 Signal: AlexanderMartin.79
After more than four years of development and multiple delays, the British government on Wednesday introduced its landmark Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to Parliament, threatening large fines for companies that fail to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
Here's what you need to know ⤵️
Here's what you need to know ⤵️
British government unveils long-awaited landmark cybersecurity bill
After years of delays, the British government introduced its landmark Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to Parliament, threatening large fines for companies that fail to protect themselves from cyber...
therecord.media
November 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM
After more than four years of development and multiple delays, the British government on Wednesday introduced its landmark Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to Parliament, threatening large fines for companies that fail to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
Here's what you need to know ⤵️
Here's what you need to know ⤵️
A senior U.S. military officer with no digital warfare experience has emerged as a top contender to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, Recorded Future News has learned.
✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the scoop
✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the scoop
Army officer with Indo-Pacific experience emerges as potential Cyber Command, NSA pick
Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, the No. 2 at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, has emerged as a potential pick to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, multiple people familiar with the search told...
therecord.media
November 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A senior U.S. military officer with no digital warfare experience has emerged as a top contender to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, Recorded Future News has learned.
✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the scoop
✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the scoop
Reposted by Alexander Martin
NEW: Google is taking legal action against Chinese cybercriminals responsible for sending out millions of scam text messages—including those parcel delivery scams.
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
This Is the Platform Google Claims Is Behind a 'Staggering’ Scam Text Operation
Google is suing 25 people it alleges are behind a “relentless” scam text operation that uses a phishing-as-a-service platform called Lighthouse.
www.wired.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:36 AM
NEW: Google is taking legal action against Chinese cybercriminals responsible for sending out millions of scam text messages—including those parcel delivery scams.
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
🏥 More than a year after a ransomware group published blood test information regarding NHS patients’ sexually transmitted infections and cancer cases, the company directly impacted by the breach, Synnovis, says it is beginning the process that will notify the individuals impacted.
NHS patients to finally be informed if hackers published their STI and cancer test data
U.K. pathology services company Synnovis says it has begun notifying individuals if their sensitive healthcare data was posted online by a ransomware gang, 17 months after the incident.
therecord.media
November 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
🏥 More than a year after a ransomware group published blood test information regarding NHS patients’ sexually transmitted infections and cancer cases, the company directly impacted by the breach, Synnovis, says it is beginning the process that will notify the individuals impacted.
I honestly think we do ourselves enormous damage by joking about Russian technological advances. This is a genuinely groundbreaking moment and one we should all take a moment to recognise; a humanoid robot trained to perfectly mimic the gait and coordination of Dmitry Medvedev flawlessly.
A Russian company presented the country's first (per TASS) humanoid robot equipped with AI today; it didn't go very well. (The soundtrack is spot-on though)
November 11, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I honestly think we do ourselves enormous damage by joking about Russian technological advances. This is a genuinely groundbreaking moment and one we should all take a moment to recognise; a humanoid robot trained to perfectly mimic the gait and coordination of Dmitry Medvedev flawlessly.
Reposted by Alexander Martin
Short-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdown
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/cisa-2015-in...
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/cisa-2015-in...
Short-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdown
An expired 2015 law that gives companies liability protection when they share cyberthreat information with the federal government would be renewed through January 30 under Senate legislation to end th...
therecord.media
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Short-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdown
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/cisa-2015-in...
On @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/cisa-2015-in...
Reposted by Alexander Martin
"Paranoia is a constant friend of hackers." In an exclusive interview for our podcast, we went inside a Colorado prison to interview former Most Wanted cyber criminal 'Tank'. Vyacheslav Penchukov, climbed to the top of the Russian-speaking cyber-underworld.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tank interview: A hacking kingpin reveals all to the BBC
One of the world's most prominent cyber-criminals speaks to the BBC in an exclusive interview.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"Paranoia is a constant friend of hackers." In an exclusive interview for our podcast, we went inside a Colorado prison to interview former Most Wanted cyber criminal 'Tank'. Vyacheslav Penchukov, climbed to the top of the Russian-speaking cyber-underworld.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thank you so much to everyone for your support! I'm glad I completed it, although I wish I'd managed it in a much quicker time. Still, it's good to have completed a half marathon and hopefully I can improve on my time in the future!
November 10, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Thank you so much to everyone for your support! I'm glad I completed it, although I wish I'd managed it in a much quicker time. Still, it's good to have completed a half marathon and hopefully I can improve on my time in the future!
Hackers have launched five cyberattacks against Britain's drinking water suppliers since the beginning of last year, according to reports filed with the drinking water watchdog and partially disclosed to Recorded Future News under freedom of information laws.
Hackers are attacking Britain’s drinking water suppliers
The U.K.'s water suppliers have reported five cyberattacks since January 2024, according to information reviewed by Recorded Future News. The incidents did not affect the safety of water supplies, but...
therecord.media
November 3, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Hackers have launched five cyberattacks against Britain's drinking water suppliers since the beginning of last year, according to reports filed with the drinking water watchdog and partially disclosed to Recorded Future News under freedom of information laws.
Just a few more days to go before this race. I'm hugely grateful to the wonderful people who have donated so far and the thought of not letting you all down will keep me going when things start to get tough about the 2km mark 😅
My mum was recently among the many women who annually are diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m running the Gainsborough Half Marathon this November, hoping to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now supporting vital research that improves outcomes for women like her.
Thank you for any support you can offer!
Thank you for any support you can offer!
Gainsborough Morton 10k & Half Marathon November 2025
Hey there, thanks so much for checking out my givestar campaign. This already makes you a big deal!
givestar take fundraising seriously and treat each and...
givestar.io
November 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Just a few more days to go before this race. I'm hugely grateful to the wonderful people who have donated so far and the thought of not letting you all down will keep me going when things start to get tough about the 2km mark 😅
Reposted by Alexander Martin
Many months in the reporting - my investigation into Amazon warehouses is finally live today. A huge thank you to the workers and others who spoke to me, on and off the record. inews.co.uk/news/human-c...
Broken bones, heart attacks and chemical burns - the human cost of Amazon orders
2,500 serious injury incidents have been recorded in UK Amazon warehouses in the last ten years - roughly one injury every day and a half
inews.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Many months in the reporting - my investigation into Amazon warehouses is finally live today. A huge thank you to the workers and others who spoke to me, on and off the record. inews.co.uk/news/human-c...
Fascinating to read the reporting about Sheffield Hallam's treatment of Professor Laura Murphy. It's also another great opportunity to share this excellent article in @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social about Chinese students in Sheffield.
Rednote, rankings, and rumoured riches: The real lives of Sheffield's Chinese Students
We get behind the simplistic stereotypes
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Fascinating to read the reporting about Sheffield Hallam's treatment of Professor Laura Murphy. It's also another great opportunity to share this excellent article in @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social about Chinese students in Sheffield.
Reposted by Alexander Martin
"The documents she obtained showed the university "had negotiated directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market," she told the BBC".
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show
Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.
www.bbc.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:06 AM
"The documents she obtained showed the university "had negotiated directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market," she told the BBC".
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
After a months-long leadership vacuum amid intense scrutiny from one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal far-right supporters, the National Security Agency is readying a number of senior personnel moves meant to reinvigorate the organization.
➡ ✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the news:
➡ ✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the news:
New names surface for NSA director, other top jobs at spy agency
Officers from the Army and Air Force are under consideration to lead the NSA, and moves could be happening soon for other top jobs at the spy agency, sources tell Recorded Future News.
therecord.media
October 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
After a months-long leadership vacuum amid intense scrutiny from one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal far-right supporters, the National Security Agency is readying a number of senior personnel moves meant to reinvigorate the organization.
➡ ✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the news:
➡ ✍️ @martinmatishak.bsky.social with the news:
Reposted by Alexander Martin
EXCLUSIVE: The British government is preparing to roll back on its pledge to make Big Tech companies pay for scams in its upcoming fraud strategy.
Banks furious as UK shies away from making Big Tech pay for fraud
Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged before the election to put tech giants on the hook for fraud.
www.politico.eu
October 24, 2025 at 8:56 AM
EXCLUSIVE: The British government is preparing to roll back on its pledge to make Big Tech companies pay for scams in its upcoming fraud strategy.
Today: The Counter Ransomware Initiative met in Singapore, with the UK govt using the opportunity to celebrate its "tough new proposals to crack down on ransomware attacks."
But, as opposition MPs complained earlier this week, there are some real concerns about turning those proposals into laws...
But, as opposition MPs complained earlier this week, there are some real concerns about turning those proposals into laws...
UK cyber law delays 'deeply concerning,' say MPs
Major recent cybersecurity incidents should spur the British government to act decisively on new cybersecurity laws, opposition MPs say.
therecord.media
October 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Today: The Counter Ransomware Initiative met in Singapore, with the UK govt using the opportunity to celebrate its "tough new proposals to crack down on ransomware attacks."
But, as opposition MPs complained earlier this week, there are some real concerns about turning those proposals into laws...
But, as opposition MPs complained earlier this week, there are some real concerns about turning those proposals into laws...
British opposition lawmakers said this week it was “deeply concerning” the government had still not introduced new cybersecurity laws to Parliament, warning that “gaps in our legislation” are “fuelling even greater threats against our nation.”
UK cyber law delays 'deeply concerning,' say MPs
Major recent cybersecurity incidents should spur the British government to act decisively on new cybersecurity laws, opposition MPs say.
therecord.media
October 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
British opposition lawmakers said this week it was “deeply concerning” the government had still not introduced new cybersecurity laws to Parliament, warning that “gaps in our legislation” are “fuelling even greater threats against our nation.”
Britain’s security agencies are grappling with the most “contested and complex” threat environment in decades, one of the country’s most senior spies warned on Wednesday.
Those attacks are coming “from all sorts of dimensions,” Anne Keast-Butler said, including “states cooperating with each other.”
Those attacks are coming “from all sorts of dimensions,” Anne Keast-Butler said, including “states cooperating with each other.”
UK facing ‘most contested and complex’ threat in decades, warns GCHQ director
Britain’s security agencies are grappling with the most “contested and complex” threat environment in decades, one of the country’s most senior spies warned.
therecord.media
October 23, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Britain’s security agencies are grappling with the most “contested and complex” threat environment in decades, one of the country’s most senior spies warned on Wednesday.
Those attacks are coming “from all sorts of dimensions,” Anne Keast-Butler said, including “states cooperating with each other.”
Those attacks are coming “from all sorts of dimensions,” Anne Keast-Butler said, including “states cooperating with each other.”
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a mysterious spearphishing campaign impersonating the Ukrainian president’s office that disappeared on the same day it was launched in a bid to compromise organizations involved in war relief efforts.
'PhantomCaptcha' hackers impersonate Ukrainian president’s office in attack on war relief workers
A spearphishing campaign earlier in October disappeared within a day, according to cybersecurity researchers, but it was aimed at a wide variety of targets associated with the war in Ukraine.
therecord.media
October 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a mysterious spearphishing campaign impersonating the Ukrainian president’s office that disappeared on the same day it was launched in a bid to compromise organizations involved in war relief efforts.
Very interesting to see Bradley Thomas bring this forward. I assume it's an attempt to encourage the govt to bringing forward its own bill on ransomware?
The Home Office has (of course) been mooting such a bill for years now and in July responded to a consultation on it: www.gov.uk/government/c...
The Home Office has (of course) been mooting such a bill for years now and in July responded to a consultation on it: www.gov.uk/government/c...
October 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Very interesting to see Bradley Thomas bring this forward. I assume it's an attempt to encourage the govt to bringing forward its own bill on ransomware?
The Home Office has (of course) been mooting such a bill for years now and in July responded to a consultation on it: www.gov.uk/government/c...
The Home Office has (of course) been mooting such a bill for years now and in July responded to a consultation on it: www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reposted by Alexander Martin
I think this is complacent. China's economic model, w vast over-capacity & subsidies enabling it to drive competitors out of business is essentially an imperial economy: consumers & raw materials in the periphery, advanced tech in the metropolis. 1/2
As it will be in the western news again this week over spying and trade, let's talk about China.
And in particular, two little-stated but uncomfortable truths. Of superior demand, and their actions to avoid being dependent on others.
And maybe another... of western loss of leadership. --->
And in particular, two little-stated but uncomfortable truths. Of superior demand, and their actions to avoid being dependent on others.
And maybe another... of western loss of leadership. --->
October 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I think this is complacent. China's economic model, w vast over-capacity & subsidies enabling it to drive competitors out of business is essentially an imperial economy: consumers & raw materials in the periphery, advanced tech in the metropolis. 1/2
Reposted by Alexander Martin
NEW
The mystery of the dropped Chinese spying prosecutions
How the evidence points to mistakes by the Crown Prosecution Service, but nobody can explain the decision.
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
The mystery of the dropped Chinese spying prosecutions
How the evidence points to mistakes by the Crown Prosecution Service, but nobody can explain the decision.
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
The mystery of the dropped Chinese spying prosecutions
The evidence points to mistakes by the Crown Prosecution Service, but nobody can explain the decision
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 11:47 AM
NEW
The mystery of the dropped Chinese spying prosecutions
How the evidence points to mistakes by the Crown Prosecution Service, but nobody can explain the decision.
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
The mystery of the dropped Chinese spying prosecutions
How the evidence points to mistakes by the Crown Prosecution Service, but nobody can explain the decision.
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...