Thomas Rid
Professor of Strategic Studies
About
Rid brings to Johns Hopkins more than a decade of experience in international security and intelligence studies, previously serving as a Professor of Security Studies in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, where he developed a Cyber Security module that bridged the gap between technological and political debates.
Rid has recently shared his expertise on information security through testimony before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as insights on intelligence with the German Bundestag and the UK Parliament.
Rid closely tracked the election interference in 2016, and was one of the first named sources to call out the hack-and-leak as a Russian intelligence operation, only one day after details became public
He has held positions at the RAND Corporation in Washington, the Institut Français des Relations Internationales in Paris, and served as a visiting scholar at Hebrew University and Shalem Center in Jerusalem. From 2007 to 2008, Rid served as a Visiting Scholar at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS. He holds a PhD and MA in Social Science from Humboldt University in Berlin.
Books:
Rid, T. (2016). Rise of the machines: A cybernetic history. New York: W. W. Norton et Company.
Rid, T. (2013). Cyber war will not take place. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
In the News
Hack, dump, divide.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid interviewed on Lawfare The Report podcast, 7/26
Attorney General Barr fires up the encryption debate.
Thomas Rid cited in The Washington Post The Cybersecurity 202, 7/24
As feds struggle, states create their own anti-election propaganda programs.
Thomas Rid quoted on CNN, 7/11
U.S. hackers penetrate Russia's electric grid.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid cited in Cyber Security Intelligence, 7/1
U.S. and Russia clash over power grid ‘hack attacks’.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid cited on BBC, 6/18
Russia warns of “cyberwar” following report the U.S. attacked its power grid.
Thomas Rid cited in Ars Technica, 6/17
Alphabet-owned jigsaw bought a Russian troll campaign as an experiment.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid cited in WIRED, 6/12
EternalBlue comes home to roost, in Baltimore: Will we learn from our mistakes?
Thomas Rid cited in Security Boulevard, 6/10
Facebook deletes fake accounts used in pro-Iranian influence campaign.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid quoted on CNN, 5/28
Troll watch: City infrastructures targeted with stolen NSA hacking tools.
Thomas Rid interviewed on NPR All Things Considered, 5/26
In Baltimore and beyond, a stolen NSA tool wreaks havoc.
Thomas Rid quoted in The New York Times, 5/25
What Israel’s strike on Hamas hackers means for cyberwar.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid quoted in WIRED, 5/6
After Mueller revelations, how to protect election integrity in 2020.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid interviewed on PBS NewsHour, 4/24
Mueller report props up reporting, Sanders’s ‘slip of the tongue,’ and more.
Thomas Rid cited in Columbia Journalism Review, 4/18
The U.S. pledges a harder line in cyberspace — and drops some hints.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid interviewed on NPR Morning Edition, 3/26
Russian spies buy congressional directories to hunt down targets.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid quoted in Yahoo News, 3/12
Our elections are still vulnerable to Russian interference.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid cited in The Washington Post, 3/6
U.S. Cyber Command operation disrupted internet access of Russian troll factory on day of 2018 midterms.
Thomas Rid quoted in The Washington Post, 2/27
Before elections, U.S. cut Russian trolls' internet access.
Thomas Rid cited in Healthcare Info Security, 2/27
House Democrats, Republicans cross swords over election security bill today.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid quoted in Politico Morning Security, 2/13
Jennifer Buscemi is the deepfake that should seriously frighten you.
Professor of Strategic Studies Thomas Rid quoted in The Daily Dot, 1/30