Seminar "Unlocking Security: Passwords and Other Little Secrets", 9th April 2025

On April 9th, 2025, at 11:00 in the room 2.1. and at 13:00 in the computer room in Vipava, CITAM organizes a seminar held by prof. Roberto Dillon

Abstract:

Although the idea of a "passwordless future" is frequently highlighted in industry discussions, passwords remain the dominant authentication method and are unlikely to disappear entirely. This seminar explores the evolution of password best practices, with an emphasis on the often-overlooked human aspects of cybersecurity. Drawing on recent research, we will examine user behavior and responses to increasingly stringent password requirements. Key concepts such as Steganography and Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and how they can help protect our digital identities will also be addressed.

In the second half of the seminar, we will delve into a practical demonstration, including a step-by-step guide to recovering a lost password from a zip archive and uncovering an old Easter Egg in a popular application that still poses significant security risks.

To fully engage with the session, participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops (Windows recommended) with the capability to run either ParrotOS or Kali Linux in a Virtual Machine.

Speaker Bio:

Associate Professor Roberto Dillon is an IEEE Senior Member, an (ISC)² Professional Member, and the author of five books published by A.K. Peters, CRC Press, and Springer. He currently serves as the Academic Head for the School of Science and Technology at James Cook University's Singapore Campus, where he established a dedicated Cybersecurity degree program in 2020 and founded Southeast Asia's first permanent Computer Games Museum in 2013. His research interests encompass a range of topics, including affective computing, cybersecurity, and serious games.