Web Security

Quantum threats are real and no longer science fiction. One day quantum computers may threaten cryptography and Q-Day might already be in 2029. Google and Oratomic just published papers that bring practical quantum computing dangerously close. We're past "is this possible?” -stage and now it's "how long until someone drains Satoshi's wallet?" Meet Duncan Townsend, Principal Smart Contracts Engineer at [0x](https://www.0xprotocol.org/)/[matcha.xyz](https://matcha.xyz/). He joined in 2022 after serving as Co-Founder and CTO at Immunefi. With an M.Eng. and S.B. in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT he will share his foresight and relevance of quantum computers- not only in regard to your Bitcoin wallet. No hype. Just facts. See you there to join the discussion! \*we open doors at 7 pm and the presentation is from 8-9 pm followed by open networking

🎤 Sing your favorite songs, laugh together, and meet new people at Wednesday Karaoke Night — a fun, relaxed midweek evening in a welcoming international atmosphere. Whether you love singing or just enjoy cheering others on, you’ll find a relaxed and friendly environment where it’s easy to join in and feel part of the group. Many guests come solo, and our team is always there to help you connect, join a group, and feel comfortable from the very beginning. You can expect a great mix of karaoke performances chosen by the guests, an energetic international crowd, upbeat vibes, and a cozy venue that’s perfect for singing, laughing, and socializing. 📅 Every Wednesday, from 19:30 till late 📍 The Room by Jungle Joy, St Julian’s 🌎 Who joins: Internationals, students, travellers, expats & locals 🎟️ Entry: 7€, including: – A free welcome drink – Full access to the event – Friendly team support to help you connect and meet new people 👉 No booking needed — just show up and enjoy the night. The earlier you come, the easier it is to sign up for songs and join the fun. We look forward to welcoming you! Links: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/english_cafe_malta/) [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/)

Ready to soak up the Mediterranean sun and get active? Join Malta Mates for our weekly Wednesday beach volleyball sessions at the beautiful Sprachcaffe! Whether you're looking for a competitive game or just want to have some fun and meet international people, this is the place to be. Plus, we have full access to the swimming pool to refresh after the game! 📅 The Schedule We start at 19:00 (7pm) every Wednesday until 21:00 (9pm). If the energy is high, we can continue till 22:00 (10pm) 💪 🌊 Refresh & Relax Need to cool down? All participants have access to the Sprachcaffe swimming pool before or after their session. We have changing rooms and showers on-site, so you can go from the sand to the pool to the bar feeling fresh! ✨ What’s Included? • Beach volleyball court🏐 • Access to the swimming pool 🏊‍♂️ • Changing rooms and showers 🚿 • A great international community to socialize with! 🌍 📍 Location & Booking • Venue: Sprachcaffe, Pembroke. • Price: 7 EUR p/p Booking: To secure your spot on the court, please book your ticket here: 👉 https://www.nowonlinetickets.nl/Shop/Overview/F1CC5D6CABCE4F3CC81FFB14C4AF8884 🎒 Don't forget: Bring your swimwear, a towel, plenty of water, and your best team spirit!

The Department of Tourism Management at the University of Malta, in collaboration with GDG Malta and UN Tourism, is organising a two-day hackathon taking place from Friday 8th May to Saturday 9th May. Chill with AI: Intelligent Urban Heat Mitigation Solutions This event brings together participants for two days of learning, building, and pitching innovative ideas. It includes a hands-on workshop on AI-driven prototyping, followed by a hackathon where teams will develop solutions and present them to a panel of experts. Participants are encouraged to bring their ideas and collaborate to create impactful solutions that help keep our cities cooler and more sustainable. Register your team using the form: https://forms.gle/fV8N1PFCcq9qL18L7 Agenda Day 1 9:00 AM: Workshop on Prototyping with AI 1:00 PM: Start of Hackathon Day 2 6:00 PM: Final Presentation of idea --- Hosted By James Gatt, Administrator AOSP Enthusiast Recognized Developer on XDA Developers Experienced with both AOSP and Device Engineering Matthias Bartolo, Logistics Matthias Bartolo (Graduate Student Member, IEEE) received the B.Sc. IT (Hons.) in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Malta in 2024, graduating with First Class Honours and ranking first in his cohort. He subsequently completed an M.Sc. in ICT by Research at the University of Malta in 2025. His principal research interests lie in computer vision, applied machine learning, and in exploring how AI may be harnessed to support and empower individuals. He has gained considerable experience working on real-world projects involving complex datasets, developing practical solutions in contexts where the way forward was not immediately apparent. In this regard, he upholds a strong commitment to integrity and embraces the ideal of being “a man for others,” striving to use his abilities in service of the greater good. Matthias is actively involved in multiple projects that bridge research and application, advancing computer vision and applied machine learning techniques while contributing to several peer-reviewed publications. He was selected as a member of the Google Developers Group in Malta, where he contributes to various projects and initiatives within the group and the university. Beyond his academic and technical work, he also forms part of several voluntary organisations, further reflecting his commitment to service and community engagement. In 2024, he was honoured with the Dean’s List Award by the Faculty of ICT in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements, and was robed by the Rector during the graduation ceremony as the top student of his cohort. Joseph Grech, Hospitality Matthew Mangion, Designer Andrea Filiberto Lucas, Marketing I am a Research Support Officer I within the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Malta and a Master of Science student specialising in AI. My work focuses on applied computer vision, intelligent systems, and dataset-driven research. I contribute to active research projects within the Faculty of ICT, with responsibilities ranging from model development and evaluation to data processing, automation, and system integration. I am particularly interested in bridging academic research with real-world applications through practical AI solutions and collaborative development. Jonathan Attard, Treasurer Gabriel Hili, Community Engagement --- Partners University of Malta (https://www.um.edu.mt/ict/ai) UN Tourism (https://www.untourism.int) --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-malta-presents-chill-with-ai/.

💃 Meet, play, and dance under the stars at Friday Social Fiesta, our weekly rooftop party where internationals come together in one of Malta’s most vibrant Friday night atmospheres. The night starts social and playful, with fun games and easy connections, then gradually turns into a high-energy Latin party with reggaeton beats, dancing, and unforgettable rooftop vibes. Whether you come alone or with friends, it’s easy to blend in and enjoy the night your way. Expect a lively international crowd, rooftop views, great music, flowing drinks, and a feel-good party atmosphere that builds as the night goes on — from relaxed social vibes early on to full-on dancing later. 📅 Every Friday, from 21:00 onwards 📍 Marco Polo Rooftop, St Julian’s 🌎 Who joins: Internationals, students, travellers, expats & locals 🎟️ Entry: 6€, including: – A free welcome shot or soft drink – Full access to the rooftop party – Beer Pong Tournaments – Until 22:30: friendly team support to help you meet new people, if you like 👉 No booking needed — just show up and join the party. Arriving earlier means easier connections and better drink deals before it gets busy. Bring your best energy — the weekend starts here 💥 Links: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/english_cafe_malta/) [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/)

Join us at the Microsoft Malta office for another evening of technical learning and networking around the Microsoft Data Platform. Two sessions. One foundational. One deep. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🧠 Session 1 — From ML to AI Agents: The Journey That Changed Everything ◆ The Data Introduction Session Before we talk about SQL Server 2025, we need to speak the same language. This session tells the story of AI from the beginning: → From ML and its narrow, task-specific roots → To large language models and the generative AI explosion that followed → To the agent landscape everyone is navigating but few have clearly mapped Models, agents, assistants, copilots, skills, tools — and the very different types of agents hiding behind the same word. You will leave with a mental model that makes every AI conversation, and every vendor pitch, easier to evaluate. ◆ No prior AI experience required. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🗄️ Session 2 — SQL Server 2025 News: AI Integration and More ◆ The Main Session SQL Server 2025 marks a turning point for Microsoft's flagship database engine. This is the honest version of the story. → The vector journey from Azure SQL to what SQL Server 2025 delivers in RTM → What is GA, what is still in preview, and what that means for production → DiskANN vector indexes, AI_GENERATE_EMBEDDINGS, AI_GENERATE_CHUNKS → CREATE EXTERNAL MODEL — calling LLMs without leaving SQL Server → Fuzzy string functions: EDIT_DISTANCE, Jaro, and when NOT to use vectors Build semantic search and RAG pipelines inside the database. No separate vector store required. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤝 Networking The evening includes time to connect before and after the sessions. Whether you are deep in the Microsoft Data Platform or just getting started, this is your space to ask questions and exchange ideas with the community. 📍 Microsoft Malta Office

🎵 Dance, socialize, and celebrate the weekend under the stars at Saturday Rooftop Party, a vibrant international night on one of Malta’s favorite rooftops. Set at the welcoming Marco Polo Rooftop, the night blends relaxed social vibes with an energetic party atmosphere. Whether you come solo or with friends, it’s easy to blend in, enjoy the music, and let the night unfold naturally. With two rooftop levels, you can choose your vibe — head upstairs for relaxed conversations and lounge energy, or stay on the main level for music, drinks, and dancing as the party builds throughout the night. 📅 Every Saturday, from 21:00 till late 📍 Marco Polo Rooftop, St Julian’s 🌎 Who joins: Internationals, students, travellers, expats & locals 🎟️ Entry: 6€, including: – A free welcome shot or soft drink – Full access to the rooftop party – Glow-in-the-dark face painting – Until 22:30: friendly team support to help you meet new people, if you like 👉 No booking needed — just show up and enjoy the night. Arriving earlier means easier connections and better drink deals before it gets busy. Bring your best energy — Saturday night is for celebrating ✨ Links: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/english_cafe_malta/) [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/)

Thursday May 7th there is a quiz night! Registration is mandatory! Please RSVP here: https://luma.com/b16i1qom?locale=en-GB Join us for a fun and engaging social exchange meetup in Malta. Whether you're practicing English or any language, a beginner or advanced, this event welcomes you. Meet like-minded locals, expats, internationals, and fellow wanderers eager to share stories, explore cultures, and build friendships in a relaxed vibe. This is ideal for new residents, exchange students, and travelers immersing in Malta's island life and community. Don't miss your chance to connect over casual eating, drinking, and chats. Expand your network while embracing the nomadic spirit! 🌍👋 Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/malta.mates?igsh=czZvazUwa2liemhn&utm_source=qr

Hi all! Next time we meet in Sliema on Friday 15:00 I will write the place on the Friday morning, depending on the wether indoor or outdoor. See you! A cozy coffee meetup for women to connect, chat, and share everyday moments in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

🛶 Discover one of Malta’s most iconic natural wonders on our Blue Grotto excursion, combining dramatic coastal views, a scenic sea-cave boat ride, and free time to explore the area at your own pace. Travel by private bus to the Blue Grotto, admire the famous turtle-shaped cave from the panoramic viewpoint, then enjoy a local boat ride through glowing sea caves where sunlight paints the water in shades of blue and emerald. After the boat tour, enjoy free time by the sea — relax, explore the village, have lunch, or take an optional swim in the Blue Grotto canal. If you like, it’s easy to connect with other international participants along the way, sharing the views and the experience. 📅 Every other Saturday 🕚 Meet at 10:30, departure at 11:00 📍 Meeting point: McDonald’s, Sliema 🚌 Return: around 16:00, same location 🌎 Who it’s for: Internationals, students, travellers, expats & locals 🎟️ Online ticket required (limited spots), starting from €20, including: – Private bus transportation to and from the Blue Grotto – Scenic sea-cave boat ride – Guided walk and full team support – Event coordination and logistics 👉 Spots are limited due to transport — advance online booking on our website is required. Cliffs, sea caves, and crystal-clear waters await you along Malta’s coastline! Links: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/english_cafe_malta/) [Website](https://englishcafemalta.com/)

**TBA**

**TBA**

Our monthly PHP meetup. A virtual shindig courtesy of Zoom. Check back here for the details around 6:15 pm

Customer identity resolution becomes increasingly complex as organizations scale across multiple systems, regions, and data formats. Traditional rule-based approaches often fail to keep up with data variability, require constant manual tuning, and struggle with real-time processing needs. This session presents a practical approach to building a scalable identity resolution pipeline using AWS services and modern AI techniques. The architecture combines data ingestion through Amazon S3 and AWS Glue, transformation pipelines using Spark on EMR, and machine learning models deployed via SageMaker for entity matching and standardization. Graph-based relationship modeling is implemented using Amazon Neptune to improve resolution accuracy by incorporating household and shared attribute context. We will walk through how machine learning models can be used for name and address normalization, how intelligent blocking strategies improve matching efficiency, and how feedback loops can be introduced to continuously improve accuracy. The session also highlights how serverless components such as AWS Lambda can be used for orchestration and real-time processing. **SPEAKER BIO** Mosaic Syed is a Senior Data Engineering and Cloud Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions across global enterprise environments. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-basha-syed-92300856 **CALL FOR SPEAKERS** Learn more: [https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/](https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/) **THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: [https://www.veeam.com/](https://www.veeam.com/) **DIRECTIONS** 8800 Lyra Dr #450 · Columbus, OH go to 4th floor. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT NOTES:** 1. The dates for this series are simply placeholders at the moment. We are working on our 2026 schedule, and adjustments are forthcoming. 2. Each class in this series has an attendance fee. 3. Each class, from BOTH a sign-up and fee perspective, is a separate entity. 4. As the Etch toolset evolves, so too will the class outline below. **Introduction:** Our Site Building with Etch class provides detailed instructions on the philosophy of the Etch development framework, as well as in-depth, hands-on instruction on using the Etch environment and associated tools. Anyone familiar with Kevin Geary and the Digital Gravy set of products will tell you that they offer ground-breaking approaches to professional WordPress site development. As we write this, the Etch toolset and environment are rapidly taking shape, with weekly quantum leaps forward in WordPress development methodologies. As early investors in the Etch product offering and its development process, we are actively testing and evaluating the toolset as it takes shape. We are beyond excited to see how WordPress site development is being modernized, and can't wait to bring this course set to you. It will be a paradigm shift in page and site development within WordPress, as well as moving your development mindset light-years forward. Join us as we explore Etch and dive deep into development approaches that will genuinely elevate your craft as a website developer and agency provider. Scalable, responsive, compliant websites are now within easy reach, and Etch provides both the platform and toolset to take you there. **The breakdown of the 10-class series is as follows:** * Class 01 - TBD * Class 02 - TBD * Class 03 - TBD * Class 04 - TBD * Class 05 - TBD * Class 06 - TBD * Class 07 - TBD * Class 08 - TBD * Class 09 - TBD * Class 10 - TBD Throughout the class sessions listed above, we cover the following key areas of web development with Etch: * **Introduction to Etch Interface:** * Familiarization with the toolset's layout and understanding how to navigate and interact with its various components. * **Visual Site Building:** * Techniques for creating layouts using Etch's interface, incorporating sections, divs, containers, and elements to build semantically correct page structures. * **Styling and Design:** * Utilizing Etch's styling approach to customize elements, apply global CSS classes for consistent design, and leverage features like Flexbox and CSS Grid for responsive layouts. * **Dynamic Content and Custom Fields:** * Integrating dynamic content from custom post types and custom field plugins (like ACF, Meta Box, and even built-in fields) to build data-driven websites. * **Component Building:** * Creating and managing reusable components for headers, footers, post type layouts, and other site-wide elements. * **Performance Optimization:** * Understanding how Etch contributes to fast-loading websites and implementing performance best practices. * **Advanced Features:** * Depending on the class level, it might delve into advanced topics such as conditional logic, interactions, and custom code integration to enable more complex functionality. The series aims to equip participants with the skills to efficiently build, customize, and maintain WordPress websites using Etch, catering to both beginners and experienced web developers alike.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: This month John Lairson will share a notebook describing the Alpaca (Paper) Trading API and discuss different algorithms for evaluating stock trades. We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com