About our research
Research institute
This Master’s specialisation is offered in close collaboration with the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS), more specifically the Digital Security department within iCIS. iCIS aims to improve the fundamentals of software development via formal, mathematically founded theories, methods, and tools that support the specification, design, analysis, and evaluation of computer-based systems.
Institute for Computing and Information Sciences
Digital Security department
The Digital Security department works on a broad range of topics in computer security, including applied cryptography, security protocols, smartcards and RFID, and the security and correctness of software. Over the years we have increasingly used AI (or Machine Learning) techniques for side channel analysis, which has led to more research at the crossroads of AI & security.
Digital Security works on a broad range of topics in cyber security that includes:
- Symmetric cryptography
- Post-quantum cryptography
- AI & security
- Hardware security
- Side-channel analysis
- Mobile network security
- Privacy-by-Design
- Cyber law
Student projects
A large part of this programme is focused on research. Examples of student projects are listed below. You can find more student projects at the Digital Security department.
Large language models (LLMs) provide cybercriminals and social engineers with a new and powerful method to efficiently create phishing emails and other deceptive content (e.g., fake company websites). In this thesis project, you will conduct a literature review on the risks of LLMS to cyber security, focusing on social engineering attacks, such as phishing. You will then design and conduct an empirical experiment to assess the persuasiveness, convincingness, and effectiveness of AI-generated phishing emails (compared to human-authored phishing emails). Ideally, you will be able to present recommendations about how to mitigate potential identified risks.
If you are interested in this topic, please send an email to dr. Hanna Schraffenberger.
Modern society is interconnected through electronic and mobile devices, which we call the Internet of Things (IoT). The lack of proper protection mechanisms can lead to privacy violations and financial loss. The goal of PROACT is to design novel algorithms and silicon chips with inherent protection against physical attacks, and to develop novel simulation and evaluation techniques for physical security. PROACT will therefore contribute to an increased protection of our personal and company-critical data.
If you are interested in this topic, please send an email to dr. Stjepan Picek.