Safety First in Cybersecurity
The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is the national central funding organization for fundamental research. Through a rigorous international peer review process, the FWF supports thousands of outstanding researchers and their innovative ideas at universities and other research institutions. By fostering scientific excellence across all disciplines, the FWF contributes to the advancement of knowledge, strengthens Austria’s research ecosystem, and enhances the country’s international competitiveness in science and innovation. Among the projects funded by the FWF is SPyCoDe, coordinated by TU Wien, which brings together five research institutions across Austria.
In a recent interview with FWF, Prof. Matteo Maffei shared insights into his research on securing digital technologies that are used daily by billions of people worldwide. The discussion focuses on how blockchain technologies, web browsers, and mobile applications can be designed to resist misuse and criminal activities while preserving user privacy.
Maffei explains how his team develops innovative cybersecurity solutions that protect both end users and software developers from cyberattacks. By combining formal methods, program analysis, and secure system design, the research aims to create security mechanisms that are not only theoretically sound but also practical and scalable.
A central theme of the interview is usability. Maffei highlights the importance of what he calls “one-button solutions” — approaches that hide complex security processes behind simple, intuitive interfaces. Such solutions are crucial for ensuring that strong security guarantees can be widely adopted without increasing complexity for users or developers.
The interview also underscores the broader impact of this research. Maffei’s work has contributed significantly to Vienna’s international reputation as a leading hub for cybersecurity and privacy research, demonstrating how fundamental computer science can translate into real-world security and societal benefit.
Watch the video on YouTube to learn more
