Speaker: Franziska Roesner - Associate Professor, University of Washington

Abstract: The Internet of Things has become a reality inside people's homes, with smart devices and platforms controlling lights, doors, and appliances; allowing end users to create automations; and providing functionality such as voice assistants and even toys. Smart homes face unique security, privacy, and usability challenges because they are multi-user, multi-device systems that affect the physical environment of all inhabitants of the home -- but current commercial smart home platforms are not yet well designed for these complex interactions. In this talk, I will describe our line of research studying and designing for the people living in smart homes: surfacing end users' security and privacy concerns as well as the limitations of current platforms, exploring the challenges raised by multi-user interactions in particular, and prompting consideration of non-primary users including children and Airbnb guests.

Bio: Franziska (Franzi) Roesner is an associate professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, where she co-directs the Security and Privacy Research Lab. Her research focuses broadly on computer security and privacy for end users of existing and emerging technologies. Her work has studied contexts including the web, smartphones, sensitive user groups (e.g., journalists, survivors of human trafficking), emerging augmented reality (AR) and IoT platforms, and online mis/disinformation. She is the recipient of an MIT Technology Review "Innovators Under 35" Award, an Emerging Leader Alumni Award from the University of Texas at Austin, a Google Security and Privacy Research Award, and an NSF CAREER Award. She serves on the USENIX Security and USENIX Enigma Steering Committees. She received her PhD from the University of Washington in 2014 and her BS from UT Austin in 2008. Her website is at https://www.franziroesner.com.

Zoom Link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/98781075598