Top Projects for ‘CyberSecurity for the Next Generation’ – Russia & CIS Round 2014’ Chosen in Moscow

Generation’ international student conference, with the latest regional round in Moscow witnessing the brightest minds from Russia and the CIS win their places in the 2014 global finals in Stockholm as well as cash prizes for further development of the projects. A jury of Kaspersky Lab antivirus analysts, industry experts, scientists and professors rewarded the best students once their presentations were put forth on various facets of protecting confidential data.

Fifteen winners of local competitions in Russia, Armenia and Ukraine came to Moscow to present their research. The projects tabled covered a wide range of topical issues in IT security. Precisely, the young scientists suggested innovative solutions for protecting confidential data, preventing data leakage, cloud security and preventing DDoS attacks.

The winners of the Russia and CIS round read in the order as:

• First place – Artem Shumilov from Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Russia, for the presentation ‘Using 3D Animated Hand Gestures to Create a New Type of CAPTCHA’
• Second place – Sevak Harutyunyan (co-authored by Artak Khemchyan) from the State Engineering University of Armenia, for the presentation ‘Secret Sharing System Based on Error-Correcting Codes’
• Third place – Sergey Shpak from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Russia, for the presentation ‘Sharing Private Encrypted Information in Online Social Networks’

“Frankly speaking, I am very surprised; I did not expect to win the regional round of the ‘CyberSecurity for the Next Generation’ conference. But, of course, I am very happy,” held Artem Shumilov. Volumnising That – “I am grateful for this opportunity to present my ideas to real IT experts. From my point of view, such events are very important for students and young specialists to have a chance to dip into the profession and understand it better.”

The competitions, in which the budding scientists and researchers presented their ideas, are just one aspect of ‘CyberSecurity for the Next Generation’. The program also takes account of panel discussions, expert presentations and educational games for students. In particular, industry experts, scientists, professors and the young researchers talked at length about Edward Snowden’s revelations and their implications for privacy and confidentiality and discussed what tools could help provide appropriate protection levels aimed at Internet users.

“This is the seventh time we’ve held this conference, and it’s getting bigger every year,” alleged Natalya Obelets, Deputy Head of Education Initiatives at Kaspersky Lab. Supplementing that – “Every year we are surprised anew by the amazing depth of analysis and innovation presented by the students. We see young IT specialists showing great interest in their future profession, we see the curiosity and enthusiasm they have for IT security issues. Our major aim is to nurture the interest of young and talented people, to show them how the industry keeps developing and they can grow and develop within it. Congratulations to the winners of the regional round and good luck in the finals and in their future research.”

On record, ‘CyberSecurity for the Next Generation’ is an annual international event financed and organized by Kaspersky Lab. This long-term project brings together students, young scientists and researchers, leading IT security experts and university professors from across the world in a collaborative environment to present and discuss topical cybersecurity issues.