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Professor David Choffnes inside West Village H
David Choffnes
Associate Professor of Computer and Information Science

David Choffnes in the Press

David Choffnes for Northeastern Global News

White House Signal mishap ‘would never have happened’ if leaders used official channels, cybersecurity expert says
Pete Hesgeth walking outside in the sun.

White House Signal mishap ‘would never have happened’ if leaders used official channels, cybersecurity expert says

Messaging apps such as Signal are not sanctioned for government communications involving war plans and other classified info, experts say.
Your voice assistant is profiling you, just not in the way you expect, new research finds
An Amazon Alexa sitting on a purple surface.

Your voice assistant is profiling you, just not in the way you expect, new research finds

The three biggest players in voice assistants –– Google, Apple and Amazon –– have radically different approaches to profiling users.
Uber and Lyft unintentionally sent gig workers’ Social Security numbers to social media companies, new Northeastern research uncovers
A car that has Uber and Lyft stickers on the front windshield.

Uber and Lyft unintentionally sent gig workers’ Social Security numbers to social media companies, new Northeastern research uncovers

David Choffnes is one of several researchers who uncovered security issues with tracking pixels, tools that follow users around the web.
What is net neutrality? And why it’s vital to the future of the internet, Northeastern computer scientist explains
The exterior of the Federal Communications Commission building.

What is net neutrality? And why it’s vital to the future of the internet, Northeastern computer scientist explains

Computer Science professor David Choffnes says the principle was - and remains - crucial to the development of the internet.
NSF grant will allow researchers from around the world to improve security of smart devices — remotely
Black and white speakers on top of a wooden table.

NSF grant will allow researchers from around the world to improve security of smart devices — remotely

Northeastern's new IoT laboratory offers access to 500 devices, enabling technical research in cybersecurity and privacy on a global scale.
Automakers cleared in privacy lawsuit. Are your texts and call logs at risk? And what other data is being collected?
iPhone connected to a car with CarPlay displaying on the dashboard screen.

Automakers cleared in privacy lawsuit. Are your texts and call logs at risk? And what other data is being collected?

A cybersecurity expert reacts and says this decision raises the question as to what other data automakers might be collecting.
The smart home tech inside your home is less secure than you think, new Northeastern research finds
Person using a smart device.

The smart home tech inside your home is less secure than you think, new Northeastern research finds

A team of researchers discovered vulnerabilities in smart home devices made by big technology companies like Google.
TikTok won’t be banned from US app stores. Here’s why.

TikTok won’t be banned from US app stores. Here’s why.

TikTok doesn’t pose a national security threat to the U.S. any more than some of our most beloved apps such as Facebook and Twitter, says David Choffnes, associate professor of computer science. Banning the app would require a vote from Congress and massive changes in net neutrality.
Are Alexa, Siri, and Cortana recording your private conversations?

Are Alexa, Siri, and Cortana recording your private conversations?

Smart speakers aren’t recording all the time, says associate professor David Choffnes. “But that doesn’t mean there’s no cause for concern.”
Facial recognition technology: In our rush to deploy it, are we ignoring the risks?

Facial recognition technology: In our rush to deploy it, are we ignoring the risks?

London has announced that it will install cameras across the city to catch and identify criminal suspects, joining a growing list of cities that have embraced facial recognition technology. David Choffnes, whose research focuses on network security and privacy, cautions that with so much at stake, it’s worth considering the potential risks of public surveillance tools before rushing to deploy them.