INESC-ID’s researchers distinguished by ISOC Portugal
Researchers Diogo Barradas, Nuno Santos, and Luís Rodrigues were distinguished with the ANRW ISOC.PT 2020 Prize: Best Research Paper and Internet Impact Acknowledge Mention, with paper “On the unobservability of multimedia-based covert channels for Internet censorship circumvention”.
Using multimedia covert channels for Internet censorship circumvention
It is widely known that totalitarian states apply censorship techniques to prevent the free access to information online. In this work, we tackle the development of tools that allow for circumventing censorship by leveraging covert channels established over non-blocked multimedia applications, such as Skype. We also assess the ability of censors to detect covert channels when resorting to detection techniques based in machine learning. We explored the limitations of such techniques to develop new encoding mechanisms to create covert channels that are able to avoid detection. Our results make an important contribution towards the ability to bypass censorship, delivering a set of tools that allow citizens located in countries ruled by repressive regimes to freely access information in the Internet.
João Amado, Miguel Correia and Fernando M. V. Ramos were awarded with ANRW ISOC.PT 2020 Prize Relevant Research Mention, with the work “Intrusion Detection with Programmable Switches”.
This work aims to improve intrusion detection in computer networks by leveraging the novel monitoring capabilities of modern programmable switches. To defend against the growing sophistication of network attacks, our solution explores machine learning techniques that analyze network traffic data for timely identification and response to new attacks.
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Upcoming Events
NII International Internship Programme Presentation and Q&A by Emmanuel Planas
On April 30, Emmanuel Planas, the acting director of the Global Liaison Office (GLO) and responsible for the internationalisation program at the National Institute of Informatics (NII) in Tokyo, Japan, will give a presentation to introduce the NII and its internship program to INESC-ID students and IST’s Master’s in Computer Science students.
Date & Time: April 30, 14h00
Where: Sala Polivalente, Técnico – Taguspark
“The NII International Internship Program is an exchange activity with students from institutions with which NII has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement. This incentive program aims at giving interns the opportunity for professional and personal development by engaging in research activities under the guidance and supervision of NII researchers.
The NII Internship Program is open to Research Master’s and PhD students who are currently enrolled at one of the partner institutions that have signed an MOU agreement with NII.”
Educational Workshop on Responsible AI for Peace and Security (UNODA)
On June 6 and 7, The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) are offering a selected group of technical students the opportunity to join a 2-day educational workshop on Responsible AI for peace and security.
The third workshop in the series will be held in Porto Salvo, Portugal, in collaboration with GAIPS, INESC-ID, and Instituto Superior Técnico. The workshop is open to students affiliated with universities in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa, Oceania, and Asia.
Date & Time: June 6 a 7
Where: IST – Tagus Park, Porto Salvo
Registration deadline: April 8
Summary: “As with the impacts of Artificial intelligence (AI) on people’s day-to-day lives, the impacts for international peace and security include wide-ranging and significant opportunities and challenges. AI can help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but its dual-use nature means that peaceful applications can also be misused for harmful purposes such as political disinformation, cyberattacks, terrorism, or military operations. Meanwhile, those researching and developing AI in the civilian sector remain too often unaware of the risks that the misuse of civilian AI technology may pose to international peace and security and unsure about the role they can play in addressing them. Against this background, UNODA and SIPRI launched, in 2023, a three-year educational initiative on Promoting Responsible Innovation in AI for Peace and Security. The initiative, which is supported by the Council of the European Union, aims to support greater engagement of the civilian AI community in mitigating the unintended consequences of civilian AI research and innovation for peace and security. As part of that initiative, SIPRI and UNODA are organising a series of capacity building workshops for STEM students (at PhD and Master levels). These workshops aim to provide the opportunity for up-and-coming AI practitioners to work together and with experts to learn about a) how peaceful AI research and innovation may generate risks for international peace and security; b) how they could help prevent or mitigate those risks through responsible research and innovation; c) how they could support the promotion of responsible AI for peace and security.”