Najla Etaher

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

My research interests are focused on malware and associated risks and threats to users. I am interested in knowing how users might lose their personal information when they are connect to the Internet. Recently, I become interested in these issues: among the risks arising from this growing dependency on mobile systems are those associated with uncontrolled internet access to and from childrens’ mobile devices. The growth in mobile usage by school-age users has seen a rise in cyberbullying, sexting and on-line grooming. As well as my research is shedding light on these issues, it is motivated by the increasing threat of malware that targets end user’s personal data. This is especially critical if the targeted users are young age.

EDUCATION

MSc. in Information Management, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, (2009-2010), Distinction.

BSc. in Data Analysis and computing, Al-jabel Al-gharbi University, Gharyan, Libya, (2002-2006), Distinction.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Teaching Assistant, Al-jabel Al-gharbi University, department Data Analysis and computing, Gharyan, Libya.

Demonstrator in Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde.

Supervisors

Dr. George Weir. Lead Superviousor.

Dr. John Wilson. Second Superviousor.

ONGOING RESEARCH

Smartphones and tablets have become important in daily life as they provide a convenient and mobile means to seek, access and share information.  This convenience carries a downside in the rising concern with mobile security.  Conveying the importance of personal digital security is notoriously difficult with adult users and perhaps more so for users who are younger age users.   younger age users are avid consumers of novel apps, frequently install new programs, and regularly update existing ones. Since apps can have hidden actions or malicious behavior, this places them at risk from malicious or modified apps and some teenage users avoid specific apps out of concern for privacy.

I am a full-time Ph.D. student in Information Security at the University of Strathclyde. My research is concerned with Malware and related security threats. The main objectives of this research are to:

Get a better understanding of the smartphone users behaviour,  and security awareness.

Discover the associated security risks.

Explore attitudes to smartphone usage.