Notable academic contributions

The project focused on designing and developing an extra-secure web-based email client, with the purpose of protecting the privacy of users. The project had at heart the Zero Knowledge Privacy philosophy and it was designed to provide end-to-end encryption, while not even storing the original encryption keys. With Mizaru, the user can simply keep using their existing email provider, while enjoying the perks of being private, without having to install any software or browser extension.

Mechanical lock-and-key access control is notoriously insecure in this day and age; virtually anyone can break a lock with the most basic tools. Why not leverage technology? This project was about designing a secure phisical access control system using ubiquitous technologies, i.e. Smartphones, Bluetooth. While there are existing products to fill the niche, ALL of them have security issues which can only be mitigated through a design revamp. BlueID uses simple technologies in a clever way, to provide an extra-secure lock mechanism, which can be used just by having your smartphone with you.

Issue tracking and project management are problematic within any software company. SmartTrack was about creating an efficient, dynamic tool which would enable managers, marketing, and developers to speak the same languaage. The system was designed and crafted based on data extracted from several user tests and was evaluated against other issue tracking systems, ultimatelly surpassing them in the eyes of the users.

The project was conducted in collaboration with DASPOS, a company which delivers high-cost sophisticated fire prevention equipment all around the globe. In an attempt to increase cost-efficiency, security and accessibility, the project resulted in an end-to-end design and specification of a monitoring system, expanding accessibility and accountability through the use of mobile applications, web-apps and others.

The project revolved around providing internet connectivity to remote rural areas, where conventional infrastructure is too expensive to deploy. The case study was based in the rural areas of Tanzania, and the research was conducted in parallel with field experts. The result was a detailed step-by-step plan to deploying affordable internet infrastructure in rural Tanzania, while considering the needs of the people in the area.

Google has been the defacto search engine of the world. Yet, a closer look reveals concerning issues that Google and other major search engines have in the area of user privacy. This project is an analysis of Search Engines, some which track users and some which don't, in an attempt to determine whether one may be profitable while maintaining high standards of user privacy.