The ISG conducts systems research focused on developing secure, reliable, and usable technologies.
Our work addresses challenges such as malware, software vulnerabilities, and risks in platforms including smart cards, contactless payments, and connected devices. Drawing on expertise in software, hardware, and data analysis, we design solutions that strengthen security while maintaining usability. This research underpins safer digital infrastructures, ensuring that security measures are effective, practical, and aligned with the needs of organisations and society.
Explore our labs
The Smart Card and Internet of Things Security Centre
Director: Prof Kostas Markantonakis
We have our own dedicated research centre, the Smart Card and IoT Security Centre. This centre (previously known as the smart card centre) was founded in 2002 as a world-wide centre of excellence for training and research into security issues associated with smart cards, tokens and mobile devices. Topics studied with the group now include Radio Frequency ID (RFID), Near Field Communication (NFC), mobile devices and general embedded/ implementation system security. As research activity also focuses on devices with relatively limited processing and memory resources but with direct network connectivity – the Internet of Things (IoT) – the group’s name changed to “The Smart Card and Internet of Things Security Centre” in December 2015.
Systems and Software Security Research Lab (S3 Lab)
Lead: Dr Jassim Happa
The Systems and Software Security Research Lab (S3 Lab) was founded in June 2018.
The research carried out in the lab focuses on devising novel techniques to protect systems from a broad range of threats, including those perpetrated by malicious software. In particular, we aim at building practical tools and provide security services to the community at large. Our research, kindly sponsored by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSRC) and the European Union's Horizon 2020 (H2020) Research and Innovation programme, crosses the boundaries of a number of different Computer Science related topics, such as operating systems, computer architecture, program analysis and machine learning, making our challenging journey always exciting.
Usable Security and Privacy Lab (USP)
Lead: Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad
The Usable Security and Privacy Lab (USP Lab), directed by Dr. Maryam Mehrnezhad at the ISG, is an interdisciplinary research centre addressing critical challenges in Cyber Safety, Security, and Privacy. Our mission focuses on the risks posed by emerging technologies -including IoT, AI, and intimate digital health, while actively advancing digital agency for vulnerable populations such as domestic abuse survivors and users with visual impairments.
The USP Lab is a robust training ground for a diverse team of post-doctoral researchers, PhD candidates, MSc students, and associate visitors. Supported by strategic internal, external, and international grants, projects span key areas like LLM abusability, online hate measurement, and intimate health technology security e.g., BLE attacks. Outputs are high-impact publications in prestigious security and privacy conferences and journals and practical contributions like security analysis for major tech partners (e.g., Apple, and Screen Reader companies), art exhibitions, and a Tech Abuse Handbook co-developed by charity partners (read more here).
