| “No More Ransom!” Launches a New Website to Celebrate Turning Five | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/“No-More-Ransom!”-Launches-a-New-Website-to-Celebrate-Turning-Five.aspx | “No More Ransom!” Launches a New Website to Celebrate Turning Five | 30/07/2021 08:15:00 | <p style="text-align:justify;">The
<a href="https://www.nomoreransom.org/">No More Ransom</a> (NMR) project, a public-private initiative designed to help people recover their ransomware encrypted files for free, has been backed by eu-LISA since its inception in 2016, as part of our Agency's ongoing partnerships in the cybersecurity realm. With eu-LISA's expanding role in the digitalisation of the EU's Justice and Home Affairs domain, the Agency is glad to be a part and support the NMR initiative.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Five years later, NMR has a brand new website and currently offer 121 tools able to decrypt 151 varieties of ransomware. Available in 37 languages, the portal helped more than 6 million people recover their information to date and prevented almost 1 billion euro from ending up in criminals' pockets.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Digitalisation has given us the freedom to easily access a world of information. Digital devices, such as personal computers, laptops and mobile phones, hold hundreds of thousands of different files, which contain important information about our personal and professional lives. Ransomware enables criminals to effectively hold all of that data hostage. Attackers use advanced encryption algorithms to lock the files and demand ransom for providing the decryption keys. Even if users pay there is no guarantee the hackers will be true to their word, thus the advice is to never pay. And this is where NMR comes into play. In addition to the predefined decryption tools, the portal's "<a href="https://www.nomoreransom.org/crypto-sheriff.php?lang=en">Crypto Sheriff</a>" can also analyse sample files in order to detect which specific ransomware infected them.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">No More Ransom was launched in 2016 by the
<a href="https://www.politie.nl/en">Dutch National Police</a>, our sister agency
<a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/unhacked-121-tools-against-ransomware-single-website">Europol</a>, and cybersecurity companies M cAfee and Kaspersky Lab.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Anyone can be a target of ransomware – So, what can we do?</p><ul><li>Regularly back up data stored on your electronic devices.</li><li>Watch your clicks – do you know where a link will take you? </li><li>Beware of attachments in emails.</li><li>Ensure that your security software and operating system are up to date.</li><li>If you become a victim, do not pay!
<a href="https://www.nomoreransom.org/en/report-a-crime.html">Report the crime</a> and check No More Ransom for
<a href="https://www.nomoreransom.org/en/decryption-tools.html">decryption tool</a>s.</li></ul><p style="text-align:justify;">For more details on the new No More Ransom website, read the full press release from our colleagues at Europol
<a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/unhacked-121-tools-against-ransomware-single-website">here</a>. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Find more information about ransomware and prevention tips on
<a href="https://www.nomoreransom.org/">nomoreransom.org</a>.<br></p><div><ul class="lightbox-gallery"><li>
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| Call for Expression of Interest - eu-LISA Industry Roundtable November 2021 | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/Call-for-Expression-of-Interest---eu-LISA-Industry-Roundtable-November-2021.aspx | Call for Expression of Interest - eu-LISA Industry Roundtable November 2021 | 30/07/2021 07:00:00 | <p>Throughout<strong> November 2021</strong>, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (<strong>eu-LISA</strong>) will host its next
<strong>Industry Roundtable – Artificial Intelligence in Large-scale IT Systems: Opportunities and Challenges</strong>.</p><p>The event, organised in cooperation with the <a href="https://slovenian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/" target="_blank">Slovenian Presidency</a> of the Council of the EU, will take place
<strong>online</strong>,<strong> over four consecutive weeks (one afternoon per week: 4/11, 11/11, 18/11, 25/11)</strong>, using a dedicated platform for virtual events. </p><p>The 14<sup>th</sup> edition of the eu-LISA Industry Roundtable will focus on the opportunities and challenges for implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of the large-scale IT systems operated by eu-LISA. </p><p>There is no doubt that AI will become an integral part of the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) area. There are a number of areas where AI can and will play an important role. First and foremost, in the case of customs, AI can be effectively utilised to support risk assessment in border and migration management. eu-LISA together with <a href="https://frontex.europa.eu/" target="_blank">Frontex</a> are already exploring the integration of an AI-based screening system within the scope of <a href="/Activities/Large-Scale-It-Systems/Etias" target="_blank">ETIAS</a>, which will allow for automated profiling of travellers on the basis of pre-defined risk indicators and screening rules. </p><p>AI capabilities are also essential in developing advanced analytics solutions. Here, one of the most prominent use cases is the Central Repository for Reporting and Statistics (CRRS), part of the <a href="/Activities/Interoperability" target="_blank">Interoperability</a> architecture. Within the scope of the CRRS, AI may be deployed in different layers: starting with a multilingual natural language interface, to supporting data quality assurance and advanced data analytics. AI is already deployed and will continue to be essential in IT infrastructure management, and in improving the energy efficiency of data centres operated by eu-LISA. </p><p>The next edition of the eu-LISA Industry Roundtable will provide a forum for the industry and eu-LISA key stakeholders to exchange views on the developments of AI technologies of immediate relevance for the JHA domain, with a specific focus on the large-scale IT systems. The event will target the following applications of AI technologies:</p><ul><li>Advanced data analytics and forecasting; </li><li>AI for advanced data analytics in IT operations;</li><li>Privacy-preserving technologies for data analytics and AI;</li><li>Biometric recognition technologies.</li></ul>
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<h2>Call for Expression of Interest</h2><p>If your company is interested to present an innovative technology, product or service in the event, please<strong> sign up to participate</strong> using the
<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/4922eab4-2ba5-84ff-0a54-9ffb3344fda7">
<strong>dedicated form</strong></a>. Please note that one company can present only once; however, you are welcome to submit several proposals to one or more sessions.</p><p>
<strong>Please specify which of the topics from those indicated above you would like to address in your presentation.</strong></p><p>
<strong>Please provide a brief description of your company and the solution/ technology you would like to present. </strong>Please note that the number of presentation slots is limited and submissions will be evaluated by eu-LISA experts. The selection of submitted proposals will be based on the relevance of the proposals to the topic of the event, their novelty and potential impact. eu-LISA will communicate the outcome of the selection procedure to all applicants. </p><p>
<strong> </strong></p><h2> Timeline</h2><ul><li>The Call for Expression of Interest is open until
<strong>7 September 2021</strong>. </li><li>eu-LISA will review the proposals and inform the selected speakers by
<strong>11 October 2021</strong>.</li><li>Registration details will be released in the beginning of
<strong>October 2021</strong>. </li><li>The final programme will be released on
<strong>21 October 2021</strong>.<br></li></ul><p>
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</p><p>For any queries, please contact us at <a href="mailto:research@eulisa.europa.eu">research@eulisa.europa.eu</a></p><p>
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<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/4922eab4-2ba5-84ff-0a54-9ffb3344fda7" target="_blank">Expression of Interest Form</a>
</p><br> | | |
| Bulgaria and Romania Gain Read-only Access to VIS | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/Bulgaria-and-Romania-Gain-Read-only-Access-to-VIS.aspx | Bulgaria and Romania Gain Read-only Access to VIS | 27/07/2021 10:15:00 | <p style="text-align:justify;">As of 26 July 2021, Bulgaria and Romania have been successfully connected to the
<a href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Activities/Large-Scale-It-Systems/Vis">Visa Information System</a> (VIS) for passive (read-only) access, allowing them to view visa applications and access e-mail services, allowing for smoother visa processing.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">VIS is one of many large-scale IT managed by eu-LISA in its mission of safeguarding the Europe's internal security. VIS facilitates the exchange of visa data between Schengen States, allowing national authorities to enter and consult data, including biometrics, for short-stay visas in the Schengen Area, with the aim of combating "visa shopping" and irregular migration.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">At the moment, Bulgaria and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area, however having read-only access to VIS will support them in the implementation and usage of
<a href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Activities/Large-Scale-It-Systems/EES">EES</a>, the Entry/Exit System, another large-scale IT system that will record entry and exit of third country national to and from the Schengen Area in order to increase automation at border checkpoints and to prevent irregular migration. EES, expected to enter operations in the first half of 2022, will also mean digitalising the current practice of manual passports stamping.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The integration comes after both countries successfully completed a series of technical tests required to connect to the system. The project, managed by eu-LISA and covering design, development and testing of the passive mode at central and national level, kicked off in 2019. Bulgaria and Romania will be able to see the visa history of an applicant and to verify the validity and authenticity of Schengen visas issued by other Member States against the data stored in VIS, helping prevent fraud and fight serious crime and terrorism.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Full access to the Visa Information System would become possible once Bulgaria and Romania would be fully integrated within the Schengen area. The
<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/index_en">European Commission</a> has reiterated its call on the
<a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/">European Council</a> to take the necessary steps for Bulgaria and Romania to become part of the single area without internal borders controls in the new
<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/news/towards-stronger-and-more-resilient-schengen-area_en">Schengen Strategy</a> presented in June this year. Croatia, another EU Member State that is not yet part of the Schengen Area, is currently in the testing phase and is expected to gain passive access to VIS in 2022.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">
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<strong>Further Reading</strong></p><ul><li>
<a href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Activities/Large-Scale-It-Systems/Vis">VIS</a> – eu-LISA website</li><li>
<a href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/SiteAssets/Discover/default.aspx#/it-systems/6-vis">VIS</a> – Discover eu-LISA Portal</li><li>
<a href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Publications/Information%20Material/Leaflet%20VIS.pdf">VIS Leaflet</a></li></ul><p style="text-align:justify;">
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<strong>Map of VIS Users</strong></p><div><ul class="lightbox-gallery"><li>
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