Two University of North Georgia computer science faculty members will present their research on car hacking at the Cybertech Global Tel Aviv conference at the end of January.
Bryson Payne and Tamirat Abegaz will be among the more than 17,000 professionals who are expected to gather to discuss the cyber industry. Payne is a professor of computer science and coordinator of student cybersecurity programs and Abegaz is an associate professor of computer science.
Payne will present a hands-on demonstration of an ethical hacking attack on a simulated automotive system, and Abegaz will present on the roles of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity research and practice.
"We are honored to be invited to speak at Cybertech Global Tel Aviv, and we are grateful to our partners at the Consulate General of Israel, as well as to Ben Jarrard and retired Col. Chris Mitchiner, who helped make this collaboration possible," Payne said. "Automotive cybersecurity has become a critically important field. With remote connectivity, automated driver-assist and even self-driving features available in millions of cars on the road today, securing automotive systems from cyberattacks is more crucial than ever."
Abegaz said he has brought back research ideas from previous conferences, and he expects to do the same in Tel Aviv.
"We learn at these conferences," Abegaz said. "We take innovative ideas and experiences and share them with our students."
Abegaz will be speaking on January 31, while Payne will speak on February 1.
Payne and Abegaz will take an additional day while in Israel to speak with the leadership team at Cyber 2.0. Payne serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for the firm in Tel Aviv, which is focused on securing IT systems and operational technologies.
Payne said cyber is an ever-expanding industry, and cyber workers remain in high demand. Cyber Seek reported there were over 24,000 cybersecurity job openings in Georgia alone as of Monday.
