March 2025
Research News:
WCJB TV20 Interviews Patrick Traynor on his Research into Audio Deepfakes:
Image credit: TV 20
During the Tech Tuesday segment on WCJBTV20, Patrick Traynor, Ph.D., was recently interviewed about his research on audio deepfakes. He explained, “Deepfakes can be used for various malicious purposes, including fraud and disinformation. They can serve as tools for scammers to steal your money or manipulate you into actions, like not showing up at the ballot box on election day. It is crucial for a civic society to understand the source of information and make informed decisions. If we can’t combat deepfakes, we undermine that ability.” Traynor discussed how the issue of identifying deepfakes could be resolved, saying, “There are many problems for us to solve, and our research is addressing them from multiple angles. First, we aim to train users to be more resilient to deepfakes. We want to help people identify the problem and assist institutions in recognizing it as well. Additionally, we are tackling the issue of being able to falsify any number within the phone network. If anyone can pretend to be anyone else, they can assume any identity. If we can solve these two problems, we can make a significant difference in this area”. For more information on this interview, please see the following link.
Doctoral Student’s Research Featured in Journal of Hardware and Systems Security:
Under the guidance of Mark Tehranipoor, Ph.D., MD Kawser Bepary recently published his research titled “Towards Efficient Gate-Level Electromagnetic Side-Channel Leakage Modeling and Vulnerability Assessment” in the March edition of the Journal of Hardware and Systems Security. Bepary’s research is part of the Center for Enabling Cyber Defense in the Analog and Mixed Signal Domain (CYAN), a collaborative effort with the University of Ohio. His work focuses on modeling electromagnetic leakage at the layout, gate, and RTL (Register Transfer Level) stages, as well as developing CAD tools for security applications. Journal Link.
Events:
Science Director of Semiconductor Research Corporation Visits UF:
Image credit: Farimah Farahmandi
FICS Associate Director Farimah Farahmandi, Ph.D., recently hosted John Oakley, Ph.D., from Semiconductor Research Corporation (SCR), for his seminar on Microelectronics and Advanced Packaging Technologies (MAPT) Roadmap: Driving a New Era of Innovation in Semiconductors and Digital Twins. His distinguished career boasts 14 issued patents and the development of over 55 integrated devices, many of which have achieved significant market success. Specializing in digital and mixed-signal systems, he currently focuses on advancements in the transceiver and modem realms, with a particular emphasis on cellular platform control planes. Oakley extends his commitment to cybersecurity through his role as a board member of FICS. (Read More).
Student Award:
FICS Alumnus Receives Best Dissertation Award:
Image credit: IEEE website
Brendan David-John, Ph.D. (UF 2022), has been awarded the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Best Dissertation Award by the Visualization and Graphics Technical Committee (VGTC) for his work on privacy and eye tracking. David-John was advised by Eakta Jain, Ph.D, and is currently an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech.
Two FICS Research Students Present at NDSS Symposium:
Two FICS Research students led research that was accepted for presentation at the prestigious Network and Distributed Systems Security Symposium (NDSS). Magdalena Pasternak, a Ph. D student (pictured above), advised by FICS Director Dr. Kevin Butler, presented her groundbreaking work on the intersection of cochlear implant users and audio deepfakes. Her research explores the implications of deep-fake technology on individuals who rely on cochlear implants for hearing. Additionally, Tyler Tucker, another Ph.D. Student (pictured below), advised by Dr. Patrick Traynor, presented his innovative work on detecting IMSI catchers, contributing to the ongoing efforts to secure mobile communication networks from malicious surveillance. (Read More).
Faculty Award:
FICS Research Associate Director Racks in Numerous Awards:
Image credit: Farimah Farahmandi
FICS Research Associate Director Farimah Farahmandi, Ph.D., has consistently set a high standard of excellence in both research and education. In 2024, her outstanding contributions were recognized with several prestigious awards and honors, including The National Science Foundation CAREER Award, The Excellence Award for Assistant Professorship, and the prestigious Walden C. Rhines Endowed Professorship for Hardware Security. (Read More)