Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jiska Classen - Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prizewinner 2026
Mobile and Wireless Security, Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering, Potsdam
Whether posting memes on a smartphone on the train, jogging with a smartwatch in the woods or streaming films on a tablet at home on the sofa: we are surrounded by mobile and wireless devices and they have become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Yet the ubiquity and complexity of these systems entail numerous risks. In particular, previously unknown challenges arise in the areas of security and data protection due to opaque systems and manufacturer-driven developments. Through the systematic use of various scientific methods, such as “fuzzing” and reverse engineering, Jiska Classen gains access to manufacturers’ closed (proprietary) systems and applies innovative approaches to uncover previously unknown security vulnerabilities in mobile and wireless systems. Her findings and the methods she has developed make a lasting contribution to international security research and are of enormous societal relevance in our interconnected world.