Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

With the emergence and massive adoption of new powerful and proficient technologies based on computer networks, new security threats are surfacing, and they need to be properly addressed. This research program pursues the design of robust network security systems that cope with current and future threats, such as malicious software attacks and network congestion due to abusive use of network services. Emphasis is focused on combating cleverly crafted attacks such as polymorphic or encrypted (concealed) malicious code, mitigating disruptive traffic, and detecting secret communication channels. A main component of this research program consists of designing effective covert channels for authentication of mobile devices (e.g., laptops, smart phones) in wireless environments. A foremost component of this program consists of synthesizing network activity to effectively convey relevant information to humans by the means of multimodal channels, including meaningful sounds coupled with efficient intrusion detection and mitigation systems. Intensive training of graduate students takes place in state-of-the-art laboratories under rigorous areas of research. The outcomes of this program directly impact the well-being of the Canadian network infrastructures, leveraging the paramount importance of providing secure network environments for a plethora of applications used in almost all contexts of our modern society, such as Internet voting systems, rescue operations, health care applications, Internet telephony, and Web transactions in general.