I am a Reader in Cyber Security at the University of Kent, the Director of Science and Research at CybSafe, a Visiting Fellow in Defence and Security at Cranfield University, and an Associate Fellow at RUSI.
My research explores the interdisciplinary nature of cyber security, privacy and trust. This especially considers the impact of new technologies on these areas. As a result of this broad remit I have the pleasure of working across various domains including computing, psychology, and computational social science. I regularly contribute to mainstream media, and have written for, or featured in, the Wall Street Journal, The BBC (and BBC Radio 4), The Washington Post, Newsweek, Wired, The Telegraph, The Independent, TRT World, Tech Radar, Raconteur, Threat Post, Infosecurity Magazine, SC Magazine, Help Net Security, The Register, ZDNet, CSO, The Record, ComputerWeekly, IT Pro, Symantec Blogs, Naked Security and The Conversation.
I am open for research collaboration opportunities, new PhD students, invited talks/presentations, and media commentary. Please contact me.
Recent news.
Feb.2025 --- Invited to be Section Editor in the new Palgrave Encyclopedia of Cyberpsychology. [publisher]
Feb.2025 --- New paper titled "Invisible Lines, Visible Impact: How Territorial Security Influences Russian Cyber Security Strategy" published in The RUSI Journal. [pdf][doi]
Feb.2025 --- New article in Binding Hook: "Cyber insurance is no silver bullet for cybersecurity". [link]
Feb.2025 --- Guest Lecturer at Kent University's Information Security Management Module on: "Cyber Insurance: Origins and Progress". [link]
Feb.2024 --- PhD Student, Enes Altuncu, at the University of Kent completes degree. [link]
Jan.2025 --- New Policy Brief titled "Unlocking Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs): The importance of implementing PETs for SMEs". [pdf]
Jan.2025 --- Invited Panelist at SASIG event: "Securing the future of data: Navigating AI, sovereignty, and cyber threats". [link]
Jan.2025 --- Invited Speaker at Cognitive Security Institute: "Studying your Cyber Security Attitudes and Behaviors". [link]
Jan.2025 --- Guest Lecturer at Cardiff University's Cybersecurity Operations Module on: "Cyber-attacks & Adversarial Behaviours". [link]
Dec.2024 --- External Examiner PhD at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. [link]
Dec.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new ITV News articles on Fake QR codes and Black Friday scams. [link]
Nov.2024 --- Invited Speaker at CyberSecurity Live Conference: "The real impact of ransomware attacks on victim organisations". [link]
Nov.2024 --- Invited Speaker at University of Athens' Graduate Program in Cyberpsychology: "Psychology and Cyber Security". [link]
Nov.2024 --- Invited Speaker at iNetwork (Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council) Webinar: "Human Factor: Behavioural Insights in Cyber Security". [link]
Nov.2024 --- Speaker (joint) at Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS) Seminar: "Does Cyber Insurance promote Cyber Security Best Practice? An Analysis based on Insurance Application Forms". [link]
Oct.2024 --- New paper titled "Assessing Cyber Security Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises" published in IFIP WG 11.12 International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance. [pdf][doi]
Oct.2024 --- Invited Speaker at ISC2 London Chapter Meeting: "The 2024 Oh Behave! The Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report". [link]
Oct.2024 --- Host for RUSI Webinar featuring Dr Claudia Natanson, CEO of UK Cyber Security Council: "Building a Diverse and Resilient Cyber Workforce". [link]
Oct.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new The Telegraph article: "Evil Corp: The Russian family business that cheated British taxpayers out of millions". [link]
Oct.2024 --- New paper titled "Does Cyber Insurance promote Cyber Security Best Practice? An Analysis based on Insurance Application Forms" published in ACM Digital Threats: Research and Practice Journal. [pdf][doi]
Sep.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new DarkTrace The Inference article: "Malware-as-a-Service: what you need to know about this persistent cyber threat". [link]
Sep.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Tech Monitor article: "How to tell the world you've just been hacked". [link]
Sep.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new IT Pro article: "The importance of supply chain resilience". [link]
Sep.2024 --- Media coverage of new Oh Behave! The Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report 2024-2025. [Infosecurity Magazine][Tech Monitor][CIO News][SC Media]
Sep.2024 --- New whitepaper titled "Oh Behave! The Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report 2024-2025" by CybSafe and the National Cybersecurity Alliance. [pdf]
Aug.2024 --- New paper titled "‘There was a bit of PTSD every time I walked through the office door’: Ransomware harms and the factors that influence the victim organization’s experience" published in the Journal of Cybersecurity. [pdf][doi]
Aug.2024 --- New paper titled "The technification of domestic abuse: Methods, tools and criminal justice responses" published in the Criminology & Criminal Justice Journal. [pdf][doi]
Aug.2024 --- New paper titled "Cyber Strategy in Practice: The Evolution of US, Russian and Ukrainian National Cyber Security Strategies through the Experience of War" published in The RUSI Journal. [pdf][doi]
Aug.2024 --- New paper titled "Unmasking hate in the pandemic: A cross-platform study of the COVID-19 infodemic" published in the Big Data Research Journal. [pdf][doi]
Jul.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Raconteur article: "Hacking HR: how can people leaders ensure their operations are cybersecure?". [link]
Jul.2024 --- Speaker at The 65th London International Youth Science Forum: "Generative AI: A Catalyst for Progress or a Source of Peril?". [link]
Jul.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Raconteur article: "Sleepless nights, PTSD and strokes: inside the human cost of ransomware". [link]
Jul.2024 --- Media coverage of new RUSI Occassional Policy Paper on "‘Your Data is Stolen and Encrypted’: The Ransomware Victim Experience" in TechXplore, and TechTimes. [TechXplore][TechTimes]
Jul.2024 --- New RUSI Occassional Policy paper titled "‘Your Data is Stolen and Encrypted’: The Ransomware Victim Experience" published in collaboration with the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. [pdf][link]
Jun.2024 --- New paper titled "Cybersecurity, cyber insurance and small-to-medium-sized enterprises: A systematic review" published in the Information and Computer Security Journal. [pdf][doi]
Jun.2024 --- New paper titled "Embedding Privacy in Computational Social Science and Artificial Intelligence Research" published in International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) Workshop Proceedings. [pdf][doi]
Jun.2024 --- Speaker at Cambridge Cybercrime Centre: Seventh Annual Cybercrime Conference: "Ransomware Harms and the Victim Experience". [link]
May.2024 --- Invited Speaker at The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Digital Week, CyberKeys 2024. [link]
May.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Raconteur article: "AI worms: what your cybersecurity team needs to know". [link]
May.2024 --- Invited Speaker at ISC2 London Chapter Meeting: "Attitudes and Behaviours in Cyber Security: What you need to know!". [link]
May.2024 --- Guest Lecturer for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Chevening India, Western Balkans & Japan Cyber Security Fellowships Programme: "Cyber-attacks and Adversarial Behaviours: A human aspects perspective". [link]
May.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new FinTech Global publication: "Parents prioritise online safety education when choosing children’s banks". [link]
Apr.2024 --- Appointed to Google.org European Cybersecurity Seminars Advisory Committee, in collaboration with European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator (ECCRI). [link]
Feb.2024 --- Invited Speaker on the ITSPmagazine Podcast: "The Role Behavioral Science In Understanding And Improving Cybersecurity Posture In A Technological Society | Redefining Society" [link]
Apr.2024 --- Invited Delegate at Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre 10th Anniversary Conference. [link]
Apr.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Fintech Times publication: "CybSafe Reveals Importance and Use of Cyber Training for Customers". [link]
Mar.2024 --- Invited Speaker at Bournemouth University's Department of Psychology and Cyber Security Research Group's research seminar series: "Psychology and Cyber Security: A match made in H...". [link]
Mar.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new International Banking Systems (IBS) Intelligence (IBSi) publication: "Is Cybersecurity the key to customer loyalty for banks?". [link]
Mar.2024 --- Host and Speaker at the IMPACT Conference, a CybSafe conference in association with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), MITRE, and SASIG. [link]
Feb.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Washington Post article: "11-nation operation takes down world’s ‘most harmful’ cybercriminal group". [link]
Feb.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new ComputerWeekly article: "Users love their cyber teams, but find them frustrating". [link]
Feb.2024 --- Invited Speaker on the ITSPmagazine Podcast: "The Untold Impact of Cyber Insurance on Businesses | Human-Centered Cybersecurity Series". [link]
Feb.2024 --- New article in The Conversation: "Cybercriminals are creating their own AI chatbots to support hacking and scam users". [link]
Feb.2024 --- New article in The Financial Times, Banking Risk and Regulation publication: "Banks will only take cyber more seriously if they see an attack as a certainty". [link]
Feb.2024 --- New article in the University of Kent News: "Cyber expert tips for safe online dating this Valentine’s Day". [link]
Feb.2024 --- Expert Contributor on Greatest Hits Radio Kent station story covering Internet Safety Day and Romance Scams. [link]
Feb.2024 --- Guest Lecturer at Cardiff University's Cybersecurity Operations Module on: "Cyber-attacks & Adversarial Behaviours". [link]
Jan.2024 --- New paper titled "“I don't think we're there yet”: The practices and challenges of organisational learning from cyber security incidents" published in Computers & Security. [pdf][doi]
Jan.2024 --- New RUSI Occassional Policy paper titled "The Scourge of Ransomware: Victim Insights on Harms to Individuals, Organisations and Society" published in collaboration with the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. [pdf][link]
Jan.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Police Professional article: "Global ransomware threat expected to rise with AI, NCSC warns". [link]
Jan.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Dark Reading article: "Hook Younger Users With Cybersecurity Education Designed for Them". [link]
Jan.2024 --- Expert Contributor on Greatest Hits Radio Kent station story covering cyber attacks on Southern Water and Kent Council in Kent, UK. [link]
Jan.2024 --- Research featured in new University of Kent article: "Research by cyber expert informs UK national security ransomware report". [link]
Jan.2024 --- Research informed new Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (appointed by the UK House of Lords and the House of Commons) policy report titled "A hostage to fortune: ransomware and UK national security", which is intended to influence UK Government Policy. [report][article]
Jan.2024 --- Expert Contributor to new Tech Informed article: "2024 Informed: Ten cyber security trends". [link]