In the latest episode of the science podcast "Exzellent erklärt – Spitzenforschung für alle", the focus shifts to research from the Excellence Cluster CASA. Joining host Larissa Vassilian are Christof Paar and Asja Fischer, who engage in an in-depth discussion about cryptography and artificial intelligence (AI).
About the Episode:
Cryptography serves as an invisible shield, safeguarding our daily lives. Whether it's in keys, bank cards, or smartphones, encryption technology ensures that our data remains secure. Despite these protective measures, however, we are constantly exposed to external threats, often from powerful entities such as intelligence agencies. These actors deploy sophisticated techniques, such as barely detectable hardware Trojans, to access sensitive information.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has elevated the landscape of cyberattacks to a new level. Efficient cyberattacks and deepfakes—deceptively realistic fake images and videos—present significant new challenges to digital security. How can we protect ourselves from ransomware attacks while simultaneously avoiding falling victim to digital deceptions?
About the Experts:
Christof Paar is the founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Bochum and one of the spokespersons for the Excellence Cluster CASA. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts in IT security and applied cryptography. His research focuses on cryptographic techniques and their implementation in hardware and software, with a particular emphasis on embedded systems and secure communication protocols.
Asja Fischer is a Professor of Machine Learning at Ruhr University Bochum. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Potsdam and conducts research in areas such as deep learning, probabilistic modeling, and neural networks. Her work is centered on developing algorithms capable of recognizing and learning complex patterns in large datasets. Fischer is known for her interdisciplinary approach and her advocacy for the advancement of women in computer science.
About the Podcast:
57 excellence clusters, 1 podcast: "Exzellent erklärt" regularly showcases one of the research alliances funded by the German federal and state governments under the Excellence Strategy. The journey spans across the country, and as diverse as the locations are, so too are the topics covered—ranging from A like African Studies to Z like the Future of Medicine.
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