Applications of security and privacy

Carnegie Mellon University CyLab researchers aren’t only studying the fundamental principles of security privacy, they are applying those principles to real world applications. From the safety of autonomous vehicles to the integrity of elections, CyLab researchers are working to make the world around us—the apps we use on a daily basis, the energy supplied to our homes, our workplaces—one in which technology can be trusted.

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Learn who at Carnegie Mellon University CyLab is working on applications of security and privacy.

Subtopics

We have researchers working in the following subtopics of applications of security and privacy. Check out each of their research:

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One student, two continents Opens in new window

CMU-Africa student Farida Eleshin (MSIT ’24) is concluding her master’s program with a final semester in Pittsburgh, where she’s working on several research projects in the CHIMPS Lab that focus on privacy and security.

iPhone security compromises prove difficult to detect

Mobile phones can be abused to enable stalking through methods like location tracking, account compromise, and remote surveillance. While experts can help victims detect and recover from this type of technology abuse, researchers at Carnegie Mellon's CyLab Security and Privacy Institute say typical users aren't equipped to identify and resolve these issues on their own.

Inaugural conference talks digital public goods in Africa Opens in new window

Conrad Tucker and Assane Gueye organized the first-ever West Africa Conference on Digital Public Goods and Cybersecurity, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Why should we use password managers? We asked a security researcher.

The most common passwords in 2021 were (1) 123456, (2) 123456789, and (3) qwerty. We sat down with a CyLab researcher to better understand why password managers are such useful tools in securing our accounts, and why more of us should use them.

Rotem Guttman’s cyber forensics course is an immersive experience

INI students in Rotem Guttman’s “Cyber Forensics and Incident Response” capstone course are thrown into a fictional world to solve a cybersecurity case.

Keeping distributed systems secure Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon researchers are working to design networks that keep our ever-increasing numbers of connected devices safe and secure.

Research paper Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon CyLab partners with Rolls-Royce and Purdue

As the world continues its trend toward digitization, Carnegie Mellon University has announced the launch of a new research partnership with Rolls-Royce and Purdue University to focus on enhancing the security of embedded system platforms.

CMU and Pitt launch center dedicated to combating extremist hate

Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh are jointly launching a new center to study extremist hate. Scholars at both universities will partner through the Collaboratory Against Hate—Research and Action Center to develop effective tools that inhibit hate’s creation, growth, and destructive consequences.

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CyLab researchers awarded MURI grant to study human-bot teams

Lujo Bauer, Matt Fredrikson, and Cleotilde Gonzalez are part of a team of researchers that was named a winner of a prestigious US Department of Defense (DoD) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Award.

CMU-Africa and CyLab aim to improve financial inclusion in emerging economies

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) CyLab and CMU-Africa have established the CyLab-Africa initiative, which aims to improve the cybersecurity of financial systems in Africa and other emerging economies.

CMU announces partnership with the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute

CyManII’s vision is to introduce a cybersecure energy-ROI for energy efficient manufacturing and supply chains that secures and sustains American leadership in global manufacturing competitiveness for decades.

Ads may not provide benefits companies say they do

A recent study by researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab and Heinz College tests claims by the advertising industry that online ads help consumers find better, cheaper products faster.

Home automation rules are more risky and less risky than we thought

A recent CyLab study found that previous risks in home automation rules aren’t as dangerous in reality as once thought, but new threats were identified.

Simple “nudges” can encourage people to use a safer payment method

A team of CyLab researchers have found two forms of "nudging" that can successfully convince people to start using mobile payment, which is more secure than paying with a credit card at a point-of-sale terminal.

What if you could better control what mobile apps do with your data?

Researchers in CyLab are working to create digital “privacy assistants” that can recommend phone app privacy settings to users based on their preferences.

Research paper Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon hacking team finishes 2nd at DefCon

Carnegie Mellon University’s competitive hacking team, the Plaid Parliament of Pwning (PPP), finished in 2nd place in the “Capture the Flag” competition—widely referred to as “The Olympics of Hacking”—at this year’s DefCon security conference.

After a breach, users rarely change their passwords, and when they do, they’re often weaker

A recent study authored by CyLab researchers shows that only a minority of people change their passwords after a security breach, and those that do often change them to weaker ones.

Q&A with Kathleen Carley

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, disinformation about the virus is spreading at lightning speeds. CyLab's Kathleen Carley has been monitoring the situation.

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Cybercriminals: Things are about to get a lot more confusing for you

Two papers on cyber deception authored by CyLab’s Cleotilde Gonzalez and colleagues are being presented at this week’s Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS).

“Looking at You” illustrates today’s privacy dilemma in the form of an opera

A team of CyLab researchers helped put on an opera called Looking at You, which ran in New York City in September and explored issues of digital privacy in today’s screen-filled world.

Project Amelia provides a visit to the not-so-distant future

Project Amelia had its final production earlier this month in Pittsburgh’s South Side, where it had been running since early September. A whole cast of CyLab researchers were involved in the production.

This new tool for developers can help preserve app users’ privacy

A team of CyLab researchers created a tool that nudges developers to think a bit harder about user privacy when coding data requests.

Protecting 3D printers from attackers Opens in new window

CyLab’s researchers have developed a tool to identify security risks of networked 3D printers.

CyLab team uses AI to find and disrupt malware distribution networks

According to a new study authored by researchers in CyLab, network analysts have a new ally in detecting malware distribution networks: artificial intelligence.

Why people (don’t) use password managers effectively

A recent study by a team of CyLab researchers, including Pearman, provides some insight into how ineffectively people may be using password managers, potentially nullifying the benefits the managers are meant to provide.

Opting out of data use is hard, but it doesn’t have to be

A recent study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Michigan found that while many websites share users' browsing data with advertisers, it is difficult for users to figure out how to prevent this practice.

CMU crowned hacking champs for fifth time in seven years

Carnegie Mellon University’s competitive hacking team, the Plaid Parliament of Pwning (PPP), just won its fifth hacking world championship in seven years at this year’s DefCon security conference.

CMU’s Plaid Parliament of Pwning prepares for DefCon 27

Five INI students and alums are headed to DefCon 2019 to compete in “World Series of Hacking.”

Security and privacy need to be easy

In 2005, Carnegie Mellon hosted a first-of-its-kind conference that brought together researchers from dozens of universities and companies around the world with one mission: make privacy and security tools easier to use. That conference, the Symposium On Usable Privacy and Security (SOUPS), is holding its 15th annual meeting next month. SOUPS, as well as the entire usable privacy and security field, have deep roots at CMU.

$5M Knight Foundation Investment creates center to fight online disinformation

Carnegie Mellon University today announced the creation of a new research center dedicated to the study of online disinformation and its effects on democracy, funded by a $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The new center will bring together researchers from within the institution and across the country.

Social media bots interfere in Asia-Pacific elections, too

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University wondered: are bots also influencing elections in the Asia-Pacific? Of course they are, says a new study being presented this week at the 2019 SBP-BRiMS conference in Washington, D.C.

Malicious social media bots tried, but failed, to diminish NATO during its 2018 exercise

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers illustrates how fake news was spread on Twitter by bots during NATO’s 2018 Trident Juncture Exercise. The study is being presented this week at the 2019 SBP-BRiMS conference in Washington, D.C.

Ads, cookies, and the European privacy regulation

A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Paris-Sud have been pondering how the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation affected the use of cookies, as well as its impact on websites that rely on cookies for revenue-generating ads.

Securing the energy grid with blockchains Opens in new window

The US Department of Energy has awarded two Carnegie Mellon researchers a $400,000 grant to strengthen grid security using blockchain technology.

First round of Secure and Private IoT Initiative funded projects announced

CyLab’s Secure and Private IoT Initiative (IoT@CyLab) has broken ground as the first round of funded proposals have been announced. Twelve selected projects will be funded for one year, and results will be presented at the IoT@CyLab annual summit next year.

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